Polyethylene Oxide-Coated Electrospun Polyimide Fibrous Seperator for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Battery

A polyethylene oxide （PEO）-coated polyimide （PI） membrane was prepared by electrospinning method followed by a dip-coating and drying process for high-performance lithium-ion batteries （LIB）. 8emicrystal PEO was covered on the surface of the fibers and partially enmeshed in PI matrix, which formed unique porous structures. The pores with an average size of 4.1 μm and a porosity of 90% served as ion transport channels. Compared with the cell with Celgard 2400 membrane, the half-cell using PEO-coated P1 membrane as a separator exhibits excellent electrochemical performance both at room temperature and at low temperature. The electrolyte uptaking rate of PEO-coated PI membrane was 170% and the ionic conductivity was 3.83 × 10^-3 S cm^-1. PEO-coated PI membrane possessed 5.3 V electrochemical window. The electrode-electrolyte interfacial resistance was 62.4 Ω. The capacity retention ratios with PEO- coated PI membrane were 86.4% at 5 C and 73.5% at 10 C at 25 ℃ and 75% at 5 C at 0 ℃. Furthermore, the cell using the separator demonstrates excellent capacity retention over cycling. These advanced characteristics would boost the application of the PEO-coated PI membrane for high-power lithium ion battery.

Recent progress in Li-S and Li-Se batteries

Li–S and Li–Se batteries have attracted tremendous attention during the past several decades, as the energy density of Li–S and Li–Se batteries is high（several times higher than that of traditional Li-ion batteries）.Besides, Li–S and Li–Se batteries are low cost and environmental benign. However, the commercial applications of Li–S and Li–Se batteries are hindered by the dissolution and shuttle phenomena of polysulfide（polyselenium）, the low conductivity of S（Se）, etc. To overcome these drawbacks, scientists have come up with various methods, such as optimizing the electrolyte, synthesizing composite electrode of S/polymer, S/carbon, S/metal organic framework（MOF） and constructing novelty structure of battery.In this review, we present a systematic introduction about the recent progress of Li–S and Li–Se batteries, especially in the area of electrode materials, both of cathode material and anode material for Li–S and Li–Se batteries. In addition, other methods to lead a high-performance Li–S and Li–Se batteries are also briefly summarized, such as constructing novelty battery structure, adopting proper charge–discharge conditions, heteroatom doping into sulfur molecules, using different kinds of electrolytes and binders. In the end of the review, the developed directions of Li–S and Li–Se batteries are also pointed out. We believe that combining proper porous carbon matrix and heteroatom doping may further improve the electrochemical performance of Li–S and Li–Se batteries. We also believe that Li–S and Li–Se batteries will get more exciting results and have promising future by the effort of battery community.