Application of Thin Film As Polymer Gel Electrolyte for 3D Li-Ion Battery

Abstract

Three-dimensional materials can improve the performance of energy storage systems by providing large active surface. Thus, the research was focused on designing a full 3D battery based on electrodeposited Ni3Sn4 (Ni-Sn) anode and polymer gel electrolyte/separator that was coated via layer-by-layer (LbL) technique. Advantages of the LbL approach was appliance of polymer material onto a rough surface of 3D structured electrode material, and thickness control of the coated gel polymer electrolyte. The structure of deposited electrode material was confirmed by XRD. The thickness estimation of coated layers, and cross-section view of 3D battery were depicted via SEM. Electrochemical activity of Ni-Sn alloy with LbL coated gel electrolyte demonstrated redox couples for lithiation and delithiation processes. LbL technique proved that polymer can be coated uniformly onto 3D structure electrode and function as the electrolyte and separator. Acknowledgement This research was supported by the research grants #091019CRP2114 “Three-dimensional all solid state rechargeable batteries” from Nazarbayev University.