High-performance imidazole-containing polymers for applications in high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

This work focuses on the development of high temperature polymer electrolyte membranes(HT-PEMs)as key materials for HT-PEM fuel cells(HT-PEMFCs).Recognizing the challenges associated with the phosphoric acid(PA) doped polybenzimidazole(PBI) membranes,including the use of carcinogenic monomers and complex synthesis procedures,this study aims to develop more cost-effective,readily synthesized,and high-performance alternatives.A series of superacid-catalyzed polyhydroxyalkylation reactions have been carefully designed between p-terphenyl and aldehydes bearing imidazole moieties,resulting in a new class of HT-PEMs.It is found that the chemical structure of aldehyde-substituted N-heterocycles significantly impacts the polymerization reaction.Specifically,the use of 1-methyl-2-imidazole-formaldehyde and 1 H-imidazole-4-formaldehyde monomers leads to the formation of high-viscosity,rigid,and ether-free polymers,denoted as PTIm-a and PTIm-b.Membranes fabricated from these polymers,due to their pendent imidazole groups,exhibit an exceptional capacity for PA absorption.Notably,PTIm-a,carrying methylimidazole moieties,demonstrates a superior chemical stability by maintaining morphology and structural stability during 350 h of Fenton testing.After being immersed in 75 wt% PA at 40℃,the PTIm-a membrane reaches a PA content of 152%,maintains a good tensile strength of 13.6 MPa,and exhibits a moderate conductivity of 50.2 mS cm^(-1) at 180℃.Under H_(2)/O_(2) operational conditions,a single cell based on the PTIm-a membrane attains a peak power density of 732 mW cm^(-2) at 180℃ without backpressure.Furthermore,the membrane demonstrates stable cycle stability over 173 h within 18 days at a current density of 200 mA cm^(-2),indicating its potential for practical application in HT-PEMFCs.This work highlights innovative strategies for the synthesis of advanced HT-PEMs,offering significant improvements in membrane properties and fuel cell performance,thus expanding the horizons of HT-PEMFC technology.

Bifunctional TiO_(2-x)nanofibers enhanced gel polymer electrolyte for high performance lithium metal batteries

Exploration of advanced gel polymer electrolytes(GPEs)represents a viable strategy for mitigating dendritic lithium(Li)growth,which is crucial in ensuring the safe operation of high energy density Li metal batteries(LMBs).Despite this,the application of GPEs is still hindered by inadequate ionic conductivity,low Li^(+)transference number,and subpar physicochemical properties.Herein,Ti O_(2-x)nanofibers(NF)with oxygen vacancy defects were synthesized by a one-step process as inorganic fillers to enhance the thermal/mechanical/ionic-transportation performances of composite GPEs.Various characterizations and theoretical calculations reveal that the oxygen vacancies on the surface of Ti O_(2-x)NF accelerate the dissociation of Li PF_6,promote the rapid transfer of free Li^(+),and influence the formation of Li F-enriched solid electrolyte interphase.Consequently,the composite GPEs demonstrate enhanced ionic conductivity(1.90m S cm^(-1)at room temperature),higher lithium-ion transference number(0.70),wider electrochemical stability window(5.50 V),superior mechanical strength,excellent thermal stability(210℃),and improved compatibility with lithium,resulting in superior cycling stability and rate performance in both Li||Li,Li||Li Fe PO_(4),and Li||Li Ni_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2)cells.Overall,the synergistic influence of nanofiber morphology and enriched oxygen vacancy structure of fillers on electrochemical properties of composite GPEs is comprehensively investigated,thus,it is anticipated to shed new light on designing high-performance GPEs LMBs.

A new review of single-ion conducting polymer electrolytes in the light of ion transport mechanisms

With the depletion of fossil fuels and the demand for high-performance energy storage devices,solidstate lithium metal batteries have received widespread attention due to their high energy density and safety advantages.Among them,the earliest developed organic solid-state polymer electrolyte has a promising future due to its advantages such as good mechanical flexibility,but its poor ion transport performance dramatically limits its performance improvement.Therefore,single-ion conducting polymer electrolytes(SICPEs)with high lithium-ion transport number,capable of improving the concentration polarization and inhibiting the growth of lithium dendrites,have been proposed,which provide a new direction for the further development of high-performance organic polymer electrolytes.In view of this,lithium ions transport mechanisms and design principles in SICPEs are summarized and discussed in this paper.The modification principles currently used can be categorized into the following three types:enhancement of lithium salt anion-polymer interactions,weakening of lithium salt anion-cation interactions,and modulation of lithium ion-polymer interactions.In addition,the advances in single-ion conductors of conventional and novel polymer electrolytes are summarized,and several typical highperformance single-ion conductors are enumerated and analyzed in what way they improve ionic conductivity,lithium ions mobility,and the ability to inhibit lithium dendrites.Finally,the advantages and design methodology of SICPEs are summarized again and the future directions are outlined.

Regulation of Lithium-Ion Flux by Nanotopology Lithiophilic Boron-Oxygen Dipole in Solid Polymer Electrolytes for Lithium-Metal Batteries

Inhomogeneous lithium-ion(Li^(+))deposition is one of the most crucial problems,which severely deteriorates the performance of solid-state lithium metal batteries(LMBs).Herein,we discovered that covalent organic framework(COF-1)with periodically arranged boron-oxygen dipole lithiophilic sites could directionally guide Li^(+)even deposition in asymmetric solid polymer electrolytes.This in situ prepared 3D cross-linked network Poly(ACMO-MBA)hybrid electrolyte simultaneously delivers outstanding ionic conductivity(1.02×10^(-3)S cm^(-1)at 30°C)and excellent mechanical property(3.5 MPa).The defined nanosized channel in COF-1 selectively conducts Li^(+)increasing Li^(+)transference number to 0.67.Besides,The COF-1 layer and Poly(ACMO-MBA)also participate in forming a boron-rich and nitrogen-rich solid electrolyte interface to further improve the interfacial stability.The Li‖Li symmetric cell exhibits remarkable cyclic stability over 1000 h.The Li‖NCM523 full cell also delivers an outstanding lifespan over 400 cycles.Moreover,the Li‖LiFePO_(4)full cell stably cycles with a capacity retention of 85%after 500 cycles.the Li‖LiFePO_(4)pouch full exhibits excellent safety performance under pierced and cut conditions.This work thereby further broadens and complements the application of COF materials in polymer electrolyte for dendrite-free and high-energy-density solid-state LMBs.

Thin polymer electrolyte with MXene functional layer for uniform Li^(+) deposition in all-solid-state lithium battery

Solid polymer electrolyte(SPE) shows great potential for all-solid-state batteries because of the inherent safety and flexibility;however, the unfavourable Li+deposition and large thickness hamper its development and application. Herein, a laminar MXene functional layer-thin SPE layer-cathode integration(MXene-PEO-LFP) is designed and fabricated. The MXene functional layer formed by stacking rigid MXene nanosheets imparts higher compressive strength relative to PEO electrolyte layer. And the abundant negatively-charged groups on MXene functional layer effectively repel anions and attract cations to adjust the charge distribution behavior at electrolyte–anode interface. Furthermore,the functional layer with rich lithiophilic groups and outstanding electronic conductivity results in low Li nucleation overpotential and nucleation energy barrier. In consequence, the cell assembled with MXene-PEO-LFP, where the PEO electrolyte layer is only 12 μm, much thinner than most solid electrolytes, exhibits uniform, dendrite-free Li+deposition and excellent cycling stability. High capacity(142.8 mAh g-1), stable operation of 140 cycles(capacity decay per cycle, 0.065%), and low polarization potential(0.5 C) are obtained in this Li|MXene-PEO-LFP cell,which is superior to most PEO-based electrolytes under identical condition. This integrated design may provide a strategy for the large-scale application of thin polymer electrolytes in all-solid-state battery.

Incombustible solid polymer electrolytes:A critical review and perspective

Since the advent of the solid-state batteries,employing solid polymer electrolytes(SPEs)to replace routine flammable liquid electrolytes is regarded to be one of the most promising solutions in pursing highenergy-density battery systems.SPEs with superior thermal stability,good processability,and high mechanical modulus obtain increasing attentions.However,SPE-based batteries are not impenetrable due to their decomposition and combustibility under extreme conditions.Researchers believe incorporating appropriate flame-retardant additives/solvents/fragments into SPEs can intrinsically reduce their flammability to solve the battery safety issues.In this review,the recent research progress of incombustible SPEs,with special emphasis on flame-retardant structural design,is summarized.Specifically,a brief introduction of flame-retardant mechanism,evaluation index for safety of SPEs,and a detailed overview of the latest advances on diverse-types SPEs in various battery systems are highlighted.The deep insight into thermal ru naway process,the free-standing incombustible GPEs,and the ratio nal design of pouch cell structures may be the main directions to motivate revolutionary next-generation for safety batteries.

Interpenetrating network-reinforced gel polymer electrolyte for ultra-stable lithium−iodine batteries

Li-I_(2) batteries have attracted much interest due to their high capacity,exceptional rate performance,and low cost.Even so,the problems of unstable Li anode/electrolyte interface and severe polyiodide shuttle in Li-I_(2) batteries need to be tackled.Herein,the interfacial reactions on the Li anode and I_(2) cathode have been effectively optimized by employing a well-designed gel polymer electrolyte strengthened by cross-linked Ti-O/Si-O(GPETS).The interpenetrating network-reinforced GPETS with high ionic conductivity(1.88×10^(-3)S cm^(-1)at 25℃)and high mechanical strength endows uniform Li deposition/stripping over 1800 h(at 1.0mA cm^(-2),with a plating capacity of 3.0mAh cm^(-2)).Moreover,the GPETS abundant in surface hydroxyls is capable of capturing soluble polyiodides at the interface and accelerating their conversion kinetics,thus synergistically mitigating the shuttle effect.Benefiting from these properties,the use of GPETS results in a high capacity of 207 mAh g^(-1)(1 C)and an ultra-low fading rate of 0.013%per cycle over 2000 cycles(5 C).The current study provides new insights into advanced electrolytes for Li-I_(2) batteries.

Bacterial Cellulose/Zwitterionic Dual-network Porous Gel Polymer Electrolytes with High Ionic Conductivity

Bacterial cellulose(BC)was innovatively combined with zwitterionic copolymer acrylamide and sulfobetaine methacrylic acid ester[P(AM-co-SBMA)]to build a dual-network porous structure gel polymer electrolytes(GPEs)with high ionic conductivity.The dual network structure BC/P(AM-co-SBMA)gels were formed by a simple one-step polymerization method.The results show that ionic conductivity of BC/P(AM-co-SBMA)GPEs at the room temperature are 3.2×10^(-2) S/cm@1 M H_(2)SO_(4),4.5×10^(-2) S/cm@4 M KOH,and 3.6×10^(-2) S/cm@1 M NaCl,respectively.Using active carbon(AC)as the electrodes,BC/P(AM-co-SBMA)GPEs as both separator and electrolyte matrix,and 4 M KOH as the electrolyte,a symmetric solid supercapacitors(SSC)(AC-GPE-KOH)was assembled and testified.The specific capacitance of AC electrode is 173 F/g and remains 95.0%of the initial value after 5000 cycles and 86.2%after 10,000 cycles.

Synergetic Control of Li^(+)Transport Ability and Solid Electrolyte Interphase by Boron-Rich Hexagonal Skeleton Structured All-Solid-State Polymer Electrolyte

High Li^(+)transference number electrolytes have long been understood to provide attractive candidates for realizing uniform deposition of Li^(+).However,such electrolytes with immobilized anions would result in incomplete solid electrolyte interphase(SEI)formation on the Li anode because it suffers from the absence of appropriate inorganic components entirely derived from anions decomposition.Herein,a boron-rich hexagonal polymer structured all-solid-state polymer electrolyte(BSPE+10%LiBOB)with regulated intermolecular interaction is proposed to trade off a high Li^(+)transference number against stable SEI properties.The Li^(+)transference number of the as-prepared electrolyte is increased from 0.23 to 0.83 owing to the boron-rich cross-linker(BC)addition.More intriguingly,for the first time,the experiments combined with theoretical calculation results reveal that BOB^(-)anions have stronger interaction with B atoms in polymer chain than TFSI^(-),which significantly induce the TFSI^(-)decomposition and consequently increase the amount of LiF and Li3N in the SEI layer.Eventually,a LiFePO_(4)|BSPE+10%LiBOBlLi cell retains 96.7%after 400 cycles while the cell without BC-resisted electrolyte only retains 40.8%.BSPE+10%LiBOB also facilitates stable electrochemical cycling of solid-state Li-S cells.This study blazes a new trail in controlling the Li^(+)transport ability and SEI properties,synergistically.

Interfacial fusion-enhanced 11 μm-thick gel polymer electrolyte for high-performance lithium metal batteries

In the pursuit of ultrathin polymer electrolyte(<20 μm) for lithium metal batteries, achieving a balance between mechanical strength and interfacial stability is crucial for the longevity of the electrolytes.Herein, 11 μm-thick gel polymer electrolyte is designed via an integrated electrode/electrolyte structure supported by lithium metal anode. Benefiting from an exemplary superiority of excellent mechanical property, high ionic conductivity, and robust interfacial adhesion, the in-situ formed polymer electrolyte reinforced by titanosiloxane networks(ISPTS) embodies multifunctional roles of physical barrier, ionic carrier, and artificial protective layer at the interface. The potent interfacial interactions foster a seamless fusion of the electrode/electrolyte interfaces and enable continuous ion transport. Moreover, the built-in ISPTS electrolyte participates in the formation of gradient solid-electrolyte interphase(SEI) layer, which enhances the SEI's structural integrity against the strain induced by volume fluctuations of lithium anode.Consequently, the resultant 11 μm-thick ISPTS electrolyte enables lithium symmetric cells with cycling stability over 600 h and LiFePO_(4) cells with remarkable capacity retention of 96.6% after 800 cycles.This study provides a new avenue for designing ultrathin polymer electrolytes towards stable, safe,and high-energy–density lithium metal batteries.

In-situ polymerized PEO-based solid electrolytes contribute better Li metal batteries:Challenges,strategies,and perspectives

Polyethylene oxide(PEO)-based solid polymer electrolytes(SPEs)with good electrochemical stability and excellent Li salt solubility are considered as one of the most promising SPEs for solid-state lithium metal batteries(SSLMBs).However,PEO-based SPEs suffer from low ionic conductivity at room temperature and high interfacial resistance with the electrodes due to poor interfacial contact,seriously hindering their practical applications.As an emerging technology,in-situ polymerization process has been widely used in PEO-based SPEs because it can effectively increase Li-ion transport at the interface and improve the interfacial contact between the electrolyte and electrodes.Herein,we review recent advances in design and fabrication of in-situ polymerized PEO-based SPEs to realize enhanced performance in LMBs.The merits and current challenges of various SPEs,as well as their stabilizing strategies are presented.Furthermore,various in-situ polymerization methods(such as free radical polymerization,cationic polymerization,anionic polymerization)for the preparation of PEO-based SPEs are summarized.In addition,the application of in-situ polymerization technology in PEO-based SPEs for adjustment of the functional units and addition of different functional filler materials was systematically discussed to explore the design concepts,methods and working mechanisms.Finally,the challenges and future prospects of in-situ polymerized PEO-based SPEs for SSLMBs are also proposed.

Metal-Organic Framework Enabling Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride)-Based Polymer Electrolyte for Dendrite-Free and Long-Lifespan Sodium Metal Batteries

Sodium dentrite formed by uneven plating/stripping can reduce the utilization of active sodium with poor cyclic stability and,more importantly,cause internal short circuit and lead to thermal runaway and fire.Therefore,sodium dendrites and their related problems seriously hinder the practical application of sodium metal batteries(SMBs).Herein,a design concept for the incorporation of metal-organic framework(MOF)in polymer matrix(polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene)is practiced to prepare a novel gel polymer electrolyte(PH@MOF polymer-based electrolyte[GPE])and thus to achieve high-performance SMBs.The addition of the MOF particles can not only reduce the movement hindrance of polymer chains to promote the transfer of Na^(+)but also anchor anions by virtue of their negative charge to reduce polarization during electrochemical reaction.A stable cycling performance with tiny overpotential for over 800 h at a current density of 5 mA cm^(-2)with areal capacity of 5 mA h cm^(-2)is achieved by symmetric cells based on the resulted GPE while the Na_(3)V_(2)O_(2)(PO_(4))_(2)F@rGO(NVOPF)|PH@MOF|Nacell also displays impressive specific cycling capacity(113.3 mA h g^(-1)at 1 C)and rate capability with considerable capacity retention.

Incorporation of Ionic Conductive Polymers into Sulfide Electrolyte-Based Solid-State Batteries to Enhance Electrochemical Stability and Cycle Life

Sulfide-based inorganic solid electrolytes are promising materials for high-performance safe solid-state batteries.The high ion conductivity,mechanical characteristics,and good processability of sulfide-based inorganic solid electrolytes are desirable properties for realizing high-performance safe solid-state batteries by replacing conventional liquid electrolytes.However,the low chemical and electrochemical stability of sulfide-based inorganic solid electrolytes hinder the commercialization of sulfide-based safe solid-state batteries.Particularly,the instability of sulfide-based inorganic solid electrolytes is intensified in the cathode,comprising various materials.In this study,carbonate-based ionic conductive polymers are introduced to the cathode to protect cathode materials and suppress the reactivity of sulfide electrolytes.Several instruments,including electrochemical spectroscopy,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,and scanning electron microscopy,confirm the chemical and electrochemical stability of the polymer electrolytes in contact with sulfide-based inorganic solid electrolytes.Sulfide-based solid-state cells show stable electrochemical performance over 100 cycles when the ionic conductive polymers were applied to the cathode.

–C≡N functionalizing polycarbonate-based solid-state polymer electrolyte compatible to high-voltage cathodes

Solid-state polymer electrolytes(SPEs) capable of withstanding high voltage are considered to be key for next-generation energy storage devices with inherent safety as well as high energy density.This study involves the rational design of solid-state-C≡N functionalized P(VEC_1-CEA_(0.3))/LiTFSI@CE SPEs and its synthesis by in-situ free radical polymerization of vinyl ethylene carbonate(VEC) and 2-cyanoethyl acrylate(CEA).In situ polymerization yields electrode/electrolyte interfaces with low interfacial resistance,forming a stable SEI layer enriched with LiF,Li_(3)N,and RCOOLi,ensuring stable Li plating/stripping for over 1400 h.The-C≡N moiety renders the αH on the adjacent αC positively charged,thereby endowing it with the capability to anchor TFSI^(-).Simultaneously,the incorporation of-C≡N moiety diminishes the electron-donating ability of the C=O,C-O-C,and-C≡N functional groups,facilitating not only the ion conductivity enhancement but also a more rapid Li^(+)migration proved by DFT theoretical calculations and Raman spectroscopy.At room temperature,t_(Li+) of 0.60 for P(VEC_1-CEA_(0.3))/LiTFSI@CE SPEs is achieved when the ionic conductivity σ_(Li+)is 2.63×10^(-4) S cm^(-1) and the electrochemical window is expanded to5.0 V.Both coin cells with high-areal-loading cathodes and the 6.5-mAh pouch cell,exhibit stable charge/discharge cycling.At 25℃,the 4.45-V Li|P(VEC_1-CEA_(0.3))/LiTFSI@CE|LiCoO_(2) battery performs stable cycling over 200 cycles at 0.2 C,with a capacity retention of 82.1%.

A high-flash-point quasi-solid polymer electrolyte for stable nickel-rich lithium metal batteries

In the exploration of next-generation high-energy–density batteries,lithium metal is regarded as an ideal candidate for anode materials.However,lithium metal batteries (LMBs) face challenges in practical applications due to the risks associated with organic liquid electrolytes,among which their low flash points are one of the major safety concerns.The adoption of high flash point quasi-solid polymer electrolytes(QSPE) that is compatible with the lithium metal anode and high-voltage cathode is therefore a promising strategy for exploring high-performance and high-safety LMBs.Herein,we employed the in-situ polymerization of poly (epoxidized soya fatty acid Bu esters-isooctyl acrylate-ditrimethylolpropane tetraacrylate)(PEID) to gel the liquid electrolyte that formed a PEID-based QSPE (PEID-QSPE).The flash point of PEID-QSPE rises from 25 to 82℃ after gelation,contributing to enhanced safety of the battery at elevated temperatures,whereas the electrochemical window increases to 4.9 V.Moreover,the three-dimensional polymer framework of PEID-QSPE is validated to facilitate the uniform growth of the solid electrolyte interphase on the anode,thereby improving the cycling stability of the battery.By employing PEID-QSPE,the Li|LiNi_(0.9)Co_(0.05)Mn_(0.05)O_(2) cell achieved long-term cycling stability (Coulombic efficiency,99.8%;>200 cycles at 0.1 C) even with a high cathode loading (~5 mg cm^(-2)) and an ultrathin Li(~50μm).This electrolyte is expected to afford inspiring insights for the development of safe and long-term cyclability LMBs.

Low-Enthalpy and High-Entropy Polymer Electrolytes for Li-Metal Battery

lonic-conductive solid-state polymer electrolytes are promising for the development of advanced lithium batteries yet a deeper understanding of their underlying ion-transfer mechanism is needed to improve performance.Here we demonstrate the low-enthalpy and high-entropy(LEHE)electrolytes can intrinsically generate remarkably free ions and high mobility,enabling them to efficiently drive lithium-ion storage.The LEHE electrolytes are constructed on the basis of introducing CsPbl_(3)perovskite quantum dots(PQDs)to strengthen PEO@LiTFSI complexes.An extremely stable cycling>1000 h at 0.3 mA cm^(-2)can be delivered by LEHE electrolytes.Also,the as-developed Li|LEHE|LiFePO_(4)cell retains 92.3%of the initial capacity(160.7 mAh g^(-1))after 200 cycles.This cycling stability is ascribed to the suppressed charge concentration gradient leading to free lithium dendrites.It is realized by a dramatic increment in lithium-ion transference number(0.57 vs 0.19)and a significant decline in ion-transfer activation energy(0.14 eV vs 0.22 eV)for LEHE electrolytes comparing with PEO@LiTFSI counterpart.The CsPbl_(3)PQDs promote highly structural disorder by inhibiting crystallization and hence endow polymer electrolytes with low melting enthalpy and high structural entropy,which in turn facilitate long-term cycling stability and excellent rate-capability of lithium-metal batteries.

A three-dimensional co-continuous network structure polymer electrolyte with efficient ion transport channels enabling ultralong-life all solid-state lithium metal batteries

Solid polymer electrolytes(SPEs)have emerged as one of the most promising candidates for the construction of solid-state lithium batteries due to their excellent flexibility,scalability,and interface compatibility with electrodes.Herein,a novel all-solid polymer electrolyte(PPLCE)was fabricated by the copolymer network of liquid crystalline monomers and poly(ethylene glycol)dimethacrylate(PEGDMA)acts as a structural frame,combined with poly(ethylene glycol)diglycidyl ether short chain interspersed serving as mobile ion transport entities.The preparaed PPLCEs exhibit excellent mechanical property and out-standing electrochemical performances,which is attributed to their unique three-dimensional cocontinuous structure,characterized by a cross-linked semi-interpenetrating network and an ionic liquid phase,resulting in a distinctive nanostructure with short-range order and long-range disorder.Remarkably,the addition of PEGDMA is proved to be critical to the comprehensive performance of the PPLCEs,which effectively modulates the microscopic morphology of polymer networks and improves the mechanical properties as well as cycling stability of the solid electrolyte.When used in a lithiumion symmetrical battery configuration,the 6 wt%-PPLCE exhibites super stability,sustaining operation for over 2000 h at 30 C,with minimal and consistent overpotential of 50 mV.The resulting Li|PPLCE|LFP solid-state battery demonstrates high discharge specific capacities of 160.9 and 120.1 mA h g^(-1)at current densities of 0.2 and 1 C,respectively.Even after more than 300 cycles at a current density of 0.2 C,it retaines an impressive 73.5%capacity.Moreover,it displayes stable cycling for over 180 cycles at a high current density of 0.5C.The super cycle stability may promote the application for ultralong-life all solid-state lithium metal batteries.

In Situ High-performance Gel Polymer Electrolyte with Dual-reactive Cross-linking for Lithium Metal Batteries

Lithium metal batteries have been considered as one of the most promising next-generation power-support devices due to their high specific energy and output voltage.However,the uncontrollable side-reaction and lithium dendrite growth lead to the limited serving life and hinder the practical application of lithium metal batteries.Here,a tri-monomer copolymerized gel polymer electrolyte(TGPE)with a cross-linked reticulation structure was prepared by introducing a cross-linker(polyurethane group)into the acrylate-based in situ polymerization system.The soft segment of polyurethane in TGPE enables the far migration of lithium ions,and the-NH forms hydrogen bonds in the hard segment to build a stable cross-linked framework.This system hinders anion migration and leads to a high Li^(+)migration number(t_(Li^(+))=0.65),which achieves uniform lithium deposition and effectively inhibits lithium dendrite growth.As a result,the assembled symmetric cell shows robust reversibility over 5500 h at a current density of 1 mA cm^(-2).The LFP∷TGPE∷Li cell has a capacity retention of 89.8%after cycling 800 times at a rate of 1C.In summary,in situ polymerization of TGPE electrolytes is expected to be a candidate material for high-energy-density lithium metal batteries.

High-performance and robust high-temperature polymer electrolyte membranes with moderate microphase separation by implementation of terphenyl-based polymers

Acid loss and plasticization of phosphoric acid(PA)-doped high-temperature polymer electrolyte membranes(HT-PEMs)are critical limitations to their practical application in fuel cells.To overcome these barriers,poly(terphenyl piperidinium)s constructed from the m-and p-isomers of terphenyl were synthesized to regulate the microstructure of the membrane.Highly rigid p-terphenyl units prompt the formation of moderate PA aggregates,where the ion-pair interaction between piperidinium and biphosphate is reinforced,leading to a reduction in the plasticizing effect.As a result,there are trade-offs between the proton conductivity,mechanical strength,and PA retention of the membranes with varied m/p-isomer ratios.The designed PA-doped PTP-20m membrane exhibits superior ionic conductivity,good mechanical strength,and excellent PA retention over a wide range of temperature(80–160°C)as well as satisfactory resistance to harsh accelerated aging tests.As a result,the membrane presents a desirable combination of performance(1.462 W cm^(-2) under the H_(2)/O_(2)condition,which is 1.5 times higher than that of PBI-based membrane)and durability(300 h at 160°C and 0.2 A cm^(-2))in the fuel cell.The results of this study provide new insights that will guide molecular design from the perspective of microstructure to improve the performance and robustness of HT-PEMs.

Electrochemical Properties of PP13TFSI-LiTFSI-P（VdF-HFP） Ionic Liquid Gel Polymer Electrolytes

N-Methyl-N-propylpiperidiniumbis（trifluoromethanesulfonyl）imide （PP13TFSI）, bis（triflu- oromethanesulfonyl）imide lithium salt （LiTFSI）, and poly（vinylidene difluoride-co- hexafluoropropylene） （P（VdF-HFP）） were mixed and made into ionic liquid gel polymer electrolytes （ILGPEs） by solution casting. The morphology of ILGPEs was observed by scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the ILGPE had a loosened structure with liquid phase uniformly distributed. The ionic conductivity, lithium ion transference num- bet and electrochemical window were measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, chronoamperometric and linear sweep voltammetry. The ionic conductivity and lithium ion transference number of this ILGPE reached 0.79 mS/cm and 0.71 at room temperature, and the electrochemical window was 0 to 5.1 V vs. Li＋/Li. Battery tests indicated that the ILGPE is stable when being operated in Li/LiFePO4 batteries. The discharge capacity maintained at about 135, 117, and 100 mAh/g at 30, 75, and 150 mA/g rates, respectively. The capacity retentions were almost 100% after 100 cycles without little capacity fading.