Ion transport and structural design of lithium-ion conductive solid polymer electrolytes: a perspective

Abstract

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) possess several merits including no leakage, ease in process, and suppressing lithium dendrites growth, etc. These features are beneficial for improving the cycle life and safety performance of lithium metal batteries (LMBs), as compared to conventional non-aqueous liquid electrolytes. Particularly, the superior elasticity of polymeric material enables the employment of SPEs in building ultra-thin and flexible batteries, which could further expand the application scenarios of high-energy LMBs. In this perspective, recent progresses on ion transport mechanism of SPEs and structural designs of electrolyte components (e.g., conductive lithium salts, polymer matrices) are scrutinized. In addition, key achievements in the field of single lithium-ion conductive SPEs (SLIC-SPEs) are also outlined, aiming to provide the status quo in those SPEs with high selectivity in cationic transport. Finally, possible strategies for improving the performance of SPEs and their LMBs are also discussed.

Concentrated electrolytes for rechargeable lithium metal batteries

“…As the third element of the periodic table, Li metal has an extremely low density (0.534 g cm −3 ) and a high specific capacity (3860 mAh g −1 ), about 10 times that of graphite anodes, combined with its low electrochemical potential (−3.040 V vs. SHE) [1][2][3][4]. Therefore, Li is called the 'holy grail' in the field of energy storage and has high application prospects [5].…”

(Chlorosulfonyl)(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide—a versatile building block for battery electrolytes

“…For example, utilizing these zwitterionic compounds as electrolyte additives to enhance the dissociation of metal salts in non-aqueous electrolytes. [32][33][34][35][36] In conclusion, the chemical properties of H[ClTFSI] have been carefully examined, in view of its potential use as a building block for battery electrolytes. The sophisticated chemical reactivities of H[ClTFSI] originate from diversified reaction pathways of the sulfamoyl chloride group (--NHSO 2 Cl) in the presence of tertiary amines.…”

Rational design of nanoarray structures for lithium–sulfur batteries: recent advances and future prospects

“…With the depletion of fossil fuels and ever-increasing demand for energy sources, it is crucial to develop sustainable energy resources and affordable energy storage technologies to resolve energy and environmental issues [1][2][3][4][5]. Over the past three decades, rechargeable lithium ion batteries (LIBs) have been widely used in a variety of applications such as portable electronics, electric vehicles, and even grid-scale energy storage [6,7]. The widely commercialized LIBs comprised of conventional insertion cathode materials, such as LiCoO 2 and LiFePO 4 , have reached an energy density of around 200 Wh kg −1 [8][9][10].…”