Advancements and Challenges in Organic–Inorganic Composite Solid Electrolytes for All‑Solid‑State Lithium Batteries

To address the limitations of contemporary lithium-ion batteries,particularly their low energy density and safety concerns,all-solid-state lithium batteries equipped with solid-state electrolytes have been identified as an up-and-coming alternative.Among the various SEs,organic–inorganic composite solid electrolytes(OICSEs)that combine the advantages of both polymer and inorganic materials demonstrate promising potential for large-scale applications.However,OICSEs still face many challenges in practical applications,such as low ionic conductivity and poor interfacial stability,which severely limit their applications.This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent research advancements in OICSEs.Specifically,the influence of inorganic fillers on the main functional parameters of OICSEs,including ionic conductivity,Li+transfer number,mechanical strength,electrochemical stability,electronic conductivity,and thermal stability are systematically discussed.The lithium-ion conduction mechanism of OICSE is thoroughly analyzed and concluded from the microscopic perspective.Besides,the classic inorganic filler types,including both inert and active fillers,are categorized with special emphasis on the relationship between inorganic filler structure design and the electrochemical performance of OICSEs.Finally,the advanced characterization techniques relevant to OICSEs are summarized,and the challenges and perspectives on the future development of OICSEs are also highlighted for constructing superior ASSLBs.

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of organic-inorganic composite solid electrolytes

Solid electrolytes have received widespread attention due to their higher safety than liquid electrolytes in the past decades.In particular,organic-inorganic composite solid electro-lytes(CSEs)in which inorganic fllers dispersed in polymer solid electrolytes are consid-ered to be one of the most promising candidate electrolytes for high-performance solid-state lithium batteries.Understanding the local environments and the conduction pathway/dynamics of Lit is essential for the design of high-performance CSEs.Nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)is a non-invasive quantitative technique that has unique ca-pabilities in providing molecular structure information,morphological evolution,and measuring the movement of ions at different time scales.Therefore,for battery re-searchers,an accurate and comprehensive under standing of the basic principles and experimental design of solid-state NMR(SSNMR)is of great significance for investigating the abundant molecular structure and dynamics information in CSEs.The specific appli-cations of the SSNMR technique in CSEs are briefly introduced in this present review.

Sandwich-type composited solid polymer electrolytes to strengthen the interfacial ionic transportation and bulk conductivity for all-solid-state lithium batteries from room temperature to 120℃

The insurmountable charge transfer impedance at the Li metal/solid polymer electrolytes(SPEs)interface at room temperature as well as the ascending risk of short circuits at the operating temperature higher than the melting point,dominantly limits their applications in solid-state batteries(SSBs).Although the inorganic filler such as CeO_(2)nanoparticle content of composite solid polymer electrolytes(CSPEs)can significantly reduce the enormous charge transfer impedance at the Li metal/SPEs interface,we found that the required content of CeO_(2)nanoparticles in SPEs varies for achieving a decent interfacial charge transfer impedance and the bulk ionic conductivity in CSPEs.In this regard,a sandwich-type composited solid polymer electrolyte with a 10%CeO_(2)CSPEs interlayer sandwiched between two 50%CeO_(2)CSPEs thin layers(sandwiched CSPEs)is constructed to simultaneously achieve low charge transfer impedance and superior ionic conductivity at 30℃.The sandwiched CSPEs allow for stable cycling of Li plating and stripping for 1000 h with 129 mV polarized voltage at 0.1 mA cm^(-2)and 30℃.In addition,the LiFePO_(4)/Sandwiched CSPEs/Li cell also exhibits exceptional cycle performance at 30℃and even elevated120℃without short circuits.Constructing multi-layered CSPEs with optimized contents of the inorganic fillers can be an efficient method for developing all solid-state PEO-based batteries with high performance at a wide range of temperatures.

Revealing the specific role of sulfide and nano-alumina in composite solid-state electrolytes for performance-reinforced ether-nitrile copolymers

Composite solid-state electrolytes represent a critical pathway that balances the interface compatibility and lithium-ion conductivity in all-solid-state batteries.The quest for stable and highly ion-conductive combinations between polymers and fillers is vital,but blind attempts are often made due to a lack of understanding of the mechanisms involved in the interaction between polymers and fillers.Herein,we employ in-situ polymerization to prepare a polymer based on an ether-nitrile copolymer with high cathode stability as the foundation and discuss the performance enhancement mechanisms of argyrodite and nano-alumina.With 1%content of sulfide interacting with the polymer at the two-phase interface,the local enhancement of lithium-ion migration capability can be achieved,avoiding the reduction in capacity due to the low ion conductivity of the passivation layer during cycling.The capacity retention after 50cycles at 0.5 C increases from 83.5%to 94.4%.Nano-alumina,through anchoring the anions and interface inhibition functions,eventually poses an initial discharge capacity of 136.8 m A h g^(-1)at 0.5 C and extends the cycling time to 1000 h without short-circuiting in lithium metal batteries.Through the combined action of dual fillers on the composite solid-state electrolyte,promising insights are provided for future material design.

12.6μm-Thick Asymmetric Composite Electrolyte with Superior Interfacial Stability for Solid-State Lithium-Metal Batteries

Solid-state lithium metal batteries(SSLMBs)show great promise in terms of high-energy-density and high-safety performance.However,there is an urgent need to address the compatibility of electrolytes with high-voltage cathodes/Li anodes,and to minimize the electrolyte thickness to achieve highenergy-density of SSLMBs.Herein,we develop an ultrathin(12.6μm)asymmetric composite solid-state electrolyte with ultralight areal density(1.69 mg cm^(−2))for SSLMBs.The electrolyte combining a garnet(LLZO)layer and a metal organic framework(MOF)layer,which are fabricated on both sides of the polyethylene(PE)separator separately by tape casting.The PE separator endows the electrolyte with flexibility and excellent mechanical properties.The LLZO layer on the cathode side ensures high chemical stability at high voltage.The MOF layer on the anode side achieves a stable electric field and uniform Li flux,thus promoting uniform Li^(+)deposition.Thanks to the well-designed structure,the Li symmetric battery exhibits an ultralong cycle life(5000 h),and high-voltage SSLMBs achieve stable cycle performance.The assembled pouch cells provided a gravimetric/volume energy density of 344.0 Wh kg^(−1)/773.1 Wh L^(−1).This simple operation allows for large-scale preparation,and the design concept of ultrathin asymmetric structure also reveals the future development direction of SSLMBs.

Construction of a High‑Performance Composite Solid Electrolyte Through In‑Situ Polymerization within a Self‑Supported Porous Garnet Framework

Composite solid electrolytes(CSEs)have emerged as promising candidates for safe and high-energy–density solid-state lithium metal batteries(SSLMBs).However,concurrently achieving exceptional ionic conductivity and interface compatibility between the electrolyte and electrode presents a significant challenge in the development of high-performance CSEs for SSLMBs.To overcome these challenges,we present a method involving the in-situ polymerization of a monomer within a self-supported porous Li_(6.4)La_(3)Zr_(1.4)Ta_(0.6)O_(12)(LLZT)to produce the CSE.The synergy of the continuous conductive LLZT network,well-organized polymer,and their interface can enhance the ionic conductivity of the CSE at room temperature.Furthermore,the in-situ polymerization process can also con-struct the integration and compatibility of the solid electrolyte–solid electrode interface.The synthesized CSE exhibited a high ionic conductivity of 1.117 mS cm^(-1),a significant lithium transference number of 0.627,and exhibited electrochemical stability up to 5.06 V vs.Li/Li+at 30℃.Moreover,the Li|CSE|LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2) cell delivered a discharge capacity of 105.1 mAh g^(-1) after 400 cycles at 0.5 C and 30℃,corresponding to a capacity retention of 61%.This methodology could be extended to a variety of ceramic,polymer electrolytes,or battery systems,thereby offering a viable strategy to improve the electrochemical properties of CSEs for high-energy–density SSLMBs.

A"Concentrated lonogel-in-Ceramic"Silanization Composite Electrolyte with Superior Bulk Conductivity and Low Interfacial Resistance for Quasi-Solid-State Li Metal Batteries

The ideal composite electrolyte for the pursued safe and high-energy-density lithium metal batteries(LMBs)is expected to demonstrate peculiarity of superior bulk conductivity,low interfacial resistances,and good compatibility against both Li-metal anode and high-voltage cathode.There is no composite electrolyte to synchronously meet all these requirements yet,and the battery performance is inhibited by the absence of effective electrolyte design.Here we report a unique"concentrated ionogel-in-ceramic"silanization composite electrolyte(SCE)and validate an electrolyte design strategy based on the coupling of high-content silane-conditioning garnet and concentrated ionogel that builds well-percolated Li+transport pathways and tackles the interface issues to respond all the aforementioned requirements.It is revealed that the silane conditioning enables the uniform dispersion of garnet nanoparticles at high content(70 wt%)and forms mixed-lithiophobic-conductive LiF-Li3N solid electrolyte interphase.Notably,the yielding SCE delivers an ultrahigh ionic conductivity of 1.76 X 10^(-3)S cm^(-1)at 25℃,an extremely low Li-metal/electrolyte interfacial area-specific resistance of 13Ωcm^(2),and a distinctly excellent long-term 1200 cycling without any capacity decay in 4.3 V Li‖LiNi_(0.5)Co_(0.2)Mn_(0.3)O_(2)(NCM523)quasi-solid-state LMB.This composite electrolyte design strategy can be extended to other quasi-/solid-state LMBs.

A Tri-Salt Composite Electrolyte with Temperature Switch Function for Intelligently Temperature-Controlled Lithium Batteries

The intense research of lithium-ion batteries has been motivated by their successful applications in mobile devices and electronic vehicles.The emerging of intelligent control in kinds of devices brings new requirements for battery systems.The high-energy lithium batteries are expected to respond or react under different environmental conditions.In this work,a tri-salt composite electrolyte is designed with a temperature switch function for intelligently temperature-controlled lithium batteries.Specifically,the halide Li_(3)YBr_(6)together with LiTFSI and LiNO_(3)works as active fillers in a low-melting-point polymer matrix(polyethyleneglycol dimethyl ether(PEGDME)and polyethylene oxide(PEO)),which is further filled into the pre-lithiated alumina fiber skeleton.Above 60°C,the composite electrolyte exists in the liquid state and fully contacts with the working electrodes on the liquid–solid interface,effectively minimizing the interfacial resistance and leading to high discharge capacity in the cell.The electrolyte is changed into a solid state below 30°C so that the ionic conductivity is significantly reduced and the interface resistance is increased dramatically on the solid–solid interface.Therefore,by simply adjusting the temperature,the cell can be turned“ON”or“OFF”intentionally.This novel function of the composite electrolyte has enlightening significance in developing intelligently temperature-controlled lithium batteries.

Status and prospect of garnet/polymer solid composite electrolytes for all-solid-state lithium batteries

Solid polymer electrolytes(SPEs), such as polyethylene oxide(PEO), are characteristic of good flexibility and excellent processability, but they suffer from low ionic conductivity and small Li+transference number at ambient temperature. Inorganic solid electrolytes(ISEs), garnet-type Li7La3Zr2O12 and its derivatives(LLZO-based) in particular, possess high ionic conductivity at room temperature, wide electrochemical stability window, large Li+transference number as well as good stability against Li metal anode.Nevertheless, lithium dendrites growth, interfacial contact issue and brittle nature of LLZO-based ceramic electrolytes prevent their practical applications. In response to these shortcomings, LLZO-based/polymer solid composite electrolytes(SCEs), taking complementary advantages of two kinds of electrolytes, and thus simultaneously improving the electrode wettability, ionic conductivity and mechanical strength, have been made to develop high-performance SCEs in recent years. Herein, the intrinsic properties and research progress of LLZO-based/polymer SCEs, including LLZO-based/PEO SCEs(LLZO-based/PEO SCEs with uniform dispersion of LLZO-based fillers and LLZO-based/PEO layered SCEs) and LLZO-based/novel polymers SCEs, are summarized. Besides, comprehensive updates on their applications in solid-state batteries are also presented. Finally, challenges and perspectives of LLZO-based/polymer SCEs for advanced allsolid-state lithium batteries(ASSLBs) are suggested. This review paper aims to provide systematic research progress of LLZO-based/polymer SCEs, to allow for more efficient and target-oriented research on improving LLZO-based/polymer SCEs.

Quasi-Solid-State Ion-Conducting Arrays Composite Electrolytes with Fast Ion Transport Vertical-Aligned Interfaces for All-Weather Practical Lithium-Metal Batteries

The rapid improvement in the gel polymer electrolytes(GPEs)with high ionic conductivity brought it closer to practical applications in solid-state Li-metal batteries.The combination of solvent and polymer enables quasi-liquid fast ion transport in the GPEs.However,different ion transport capacity between solvent and polymer will cause local nonuniform Li+distribution,leading to severe dendrite growth.In addition,the poor thermal stability of the solvent also limits the operating-temperature window of the electrolytes.Optimizing the ion transport environment and enhancing the thermal stability are two major challenges that hinder the application of GPEs.Here,a strategy by introducing ion-conducting arrays(ICA)is created by vertical-aligned montmorillonite into GPE.Rapid ion transport on the ICA was demonstrated by 6Li solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance and synchrotron X-ray diffraction,combined with computer simulations to visualize the transport process.Compared with conventional randomly dispersed fillers,ICA provides continuous interfaces to regulate the ion transport environment and enhances the tolerance of GPEs to extreme temperatures.Therefore,GPE/ICA exhibits high room-temperature ionic conductivity(1.08 mS cm^(−1))and long-term stable Li deposition/stripping cycles(>1000 h).As a final proof,Li||GPE/ICA||LiFePO_(4) cells exhibit excellent cycle performance at wide temperature range(from 0 to 60°C),which shows a promising path toward all-weather practical solid-state batteries.

Tailoring Practically Accessible Polymer/Inorganic Composite Electrolytes for All-Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries:A Review

Solid-state electrolytes(SSEs)are widely considered the essential components for upcoming rechargeable lithium-ion batteries owing to the potential for great safety and energy density.Among them,polymer solid-state electrolytes(PSEs)are competitive candidates for replacing commercial liquid electrolytes due to their flexibility,shape versatility and easy machinability.Despite the rapid development of PSEs,their practical application still faces obstacles including poor ionic conductivity,narrow electrochemical stable window and inferior mechanical strength.Polymer/inorganic composite electrolytes(PIEs)formed by adding ceramic fillers in PSEs merge the benefits of PSEs and inorganic solid-state electrolytes(ISEs),exhibiting appreciable comprehensive properties due to the abundant interfaces with unique characteristics.Some PIEs are highly compatible with high-voltage cathode and lithium metal anode,which offer desirable access to obtaining lithium metal batteries with high energy density.This review elucidates the current issues and recent advances in PIEs.The performance of PIEs was remarkably influenced by the characteristics of the fillers including type,content,morphology,arrangement and surface groups.We focus on the molecular interaction between different components in the composite environment for designing high-performance PIEs.Finally,the obstacles and opportunities for creating high-performance PIEs are outlined.This review aims to provide some theoretical guidance and direction for the development of PIEs.

The Critical Role of Fillers in Composite Polymer Electrolytes for Lithium Battery

With excellent energy densities and highly safe performance,solidstate lithium batteries(SSLBs)have been hailed as promising energy storage devices.Solid-state electrolyte is the core component of SSLBs and plays an essential role in the safety and electrochemical performance of the cells.Composite polymer electrolytes(CPEs)are considered as one of the most promising candidates among all solid-state electrolytes due to their excellent comprehensive performance.In this review,we briefly introduce the components of CPEs,such as the polymer matrix and the species of fillers,as well as the integration of fillers in the polymers.In particular,we focus on the two major obstacles that affect the development of CPEs:the low ionic conductivity of the electrolyte and high interfacial impedance.We provide insight into the factors influencing ionic conductivity,in terms of macroscopic and microscopic aspects,including the aggregated structure of the polymer,ion migration rate and carrier concentration.In addition,we also discuss the electrode-electrolyte interface and summarize methods for improving this interface.It is expected that this review will provide feasible solutions for modifying CPEs through further understanding of the ion conduction mechanism in CPEs and for improving the compatibility of the electrode-electrolyte interface.

Rational Design of High-Performance PEO/Ceramic Composite Solid Electrolytes for Lithium Metal Batteries

Composite solid electrolytes(CSEs)with poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO)have become fairly prevalent for fabricating high-performance solid-state lithium metal batteries due to their high Li~+solvating capability,flexible processability and low cost.However,unsatisfactory room-temperature ionic conductivity,weak interfacial compatibility and uncontrollable Li dendrite growth seriously hinder their progress.Enormous efforts have been devoted to combining PEO with ceramics either as fillers or major matrix with the rational design of two-phase architecture,spatial distribution and content,which is anticipated to hold the key to increasing ionic conductivity and resolving interfacial compatibility within CSEs and between CSEs/electrodes.Unfortunately,a comprehensive review exclusively discussing the design,preparation and application of PEO/ceramic-based CSEs is largely lacking,in spite of tremendous reviews dealing with a broad spectrum of polymers and ceramics.Consequently,this review targets recent advances in PEO/ceramicbased CSEs,starting with a brief introduction,followed by their ionic conduction mechanism,preparation methods,and then an emphasis on resolving ionic conductivity and interfacial compatibility.Afterward,their applications in solid-state lithium metal batteries with transition metal oxides and sulfur cathodes are summarized.Finally,a summary and outlook on existing challenges and future research directions are proposed.

Anion-immobilized solid composite electrolytes based on metal-organic frameworks and superacid ZrO_(2) fillers for high-performance all solid-state lithium metal batteries

Anion-immobilized solid composite electrolytes(SCEs)are important to restrain the propagation of lithium dendrites for all solid-state lithium metal batteries(ASSLMBs).Herein,a novel SCEs based on metal-organic frameworks(MOFs,UiO-66-NH_(2))and superacid ZrO_(2)(S-ZrO_(2))fillers are proposed,and the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscope(SEM),energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS),thermo-gravimetric analyzer(TGA)and some other electrochemical measurements.The-NH_(2) groups of UiO-66-NH_(2) combines with F atoms of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene)(PVDF-HFP)chains by hydrogen bonds,leading to a high electrochemical stability window of 5 V.Owing to the incorporation of UiO-66-NH_(2) and S-ZrO_(2) in PVDF-HFP polymer,the open metal sites of MOFs and acid surfaces of S-ZrO_(2) can immobilize anions by strong Lewis acid-base interaction,which enhances the effect of immobilization anions,achieving a high Li-ion transference number(t_(+))of 0.72,and acquiring a high ionic conductivity of 1.05×10^(-4) S·cm^(-1) at 60℃.The symmetrical Li/Li cells with the anion-immobilized SCEs may steadily operate for over 600 h at 0.05 mA·cm^(-2) without the shortcircuit occurring.Besides,the solid composite Li/LiFePO_(4)(LFP)cell with the anion-immobilized SCEs shows a superior discharge specific capacity of 158 mAh·g^(-1) at 0.2 C.The results illustrate that the anion-immobilized SCEs are one of the most promising choices to optimize the performances of ASSLMBs.

Recent advances of composite electrolytes for solid-state Li batteries

All-solid-state lithium batteries(ASSLBs)are recognized as high energy density batteries system without safety issues within the next generation of batteries.The development of solid electrolytes is the crucial step of ASSLBs.The composite electrolyte has stable physical and electrochemical characteristics,and its comprehensive performance surpasses the individual solid electrolyte,bringing unique vitality to the solid electrolyte.However,their intrinsic weakness limits the development of composite electrolytes.In this review,we provide a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the challenges and opportunities of composite electrolytes,with special focus on mechanisms of ion transport,nanostructure design towards high ionic conductivity,interfacial issues within electrolytes and electrodes.Furthermore,future development is prospected,which can shed light on researchers in this field and accelerate the industrial production of composite electrolytes.

A critical review on composite solid electrolytes for lithium batteries:Design strategies and interface engineering

The rapid development of new energy vehicles and 5G communication technologies has led to higher demands for the safety,energy density,and cycle performance of lithium-ion batteries as power sources.However,the currently used liquid carbonate compounds in commercial lithium-ion battery electrolytes pose potential safety hazards such as leakage,swelling,corrosion,and flammability.Solid electrolytes can be used to mitigate these risks and create a safer lithium battery.Furthermore,high-energy density can be achieved by using solid electrolytes along with high-voltage cathode and metal lithium anode.Two types of solid electrolytes are generally used:inorganic solid electrolytes and polymer solid electrolytes.Inorganic solid electrolytes have high ionic conductivity,electrochemical stability window,and mechanical strength,but suffer from large solid/solid contact resistance between the electrode and electrolyte.Polymer solid electrolytes have good flexibility,processability,and contact interface properties,but low room temperature ionic conductivity,necessitating operation at elevated temperatures.Composite solid electrolytes(CSEs) are a promising alternative because they offer light weight and flexibility,like polymers,as well as the strength and stability of inorganic electrolytes.This paper presents a comprehensive review of recent advances in CSEs to help researchers optimize CSE composition and interactions for practical applications.It covers the development history of solid-state electrolytes,CSE properties with respect to nanofillers,morphology,and polymer types,and also discusses the lithium-ion transport mechanism of the composite electrolyte,and the methods of engineering interfaces with the positive and negative electrodes.Overall,the paper aims to provide an outlook on the potential applications of CSEs in solid-state lithium batteries,and to inspire further research aimed at the development of more systematic optimization strategies for CSEs.

Elucidating Ion Transport Phenomena in Sulfide/Polymer Composite Electrolytes for Practical Solid-State Batteries

Despite the enormous interest in inorganic/polymer composite solid-state electrolytes(CSEs)for solid-state batteries(SSBs),the underlying ion transport phenomena in CSEs have not yet been elucidated.Here,we address this issue by formulating a mechanistic understanding of bi-percolating ion channels formation and ion conduction across inorganic-polymer electrolyte interfaces in CSEs.A model CSE is composed of argyrodite-type Li_6PS_5Cl(LPSCl)and gel polymer electrolyte(GPE,including Li~+-glyme complex as an ion-conducting medium).The percolation threshold of the LPSCl phase in the CSE strongly depends on the elasticity of the GPE phase.Additionally,manipulating the solvation/desolvation behavior of the Li~+-glyme complex in the GPE facilitates ion conduction across the LPSCl-GPE interface.The resulting scalable CSE(area=8×6(cm×cm),thickness~40μm)can be assembled with a high-mass-loading LiNi_(0.7)Co_(0.15)Mn_(0.15)O_(2)cathode(areal-mass-loading=39 mg cm~(-2))and a graphite anode(negative(N)/positive(P)capacity ratio=1.1)in order to fabricate an SSB full cell with bi-cell configuration.Under this constrained cell condition,the SSB full cell exhibits high volumetric energy density(480 Wh L_(cell)~(-1))and stable cyclability at 25℃,far exceeding the values reported by previous CSE-based SSBs.

Optimized CeO_(2) Nanowires with Rich Surface Oxygen Vacancies Enable Fast Li-Ion Conduction in Composite Polymer Electrolytes

Low-cost and flexible solid polymer electrolytes are promising in all-solid-state Li-metal batteries with high energy density and safety.However,both the low room-temperature ionic conductivities and the small Li^(+)transference number of these electrolytes significantly increase the internal resistance and overpotential of the battery.Here,we introduce Gd-doped CeO_(2) nanowires with large surface area and rich surface oxygen vacancies to the polymer electrolyte to increase the interaction between Gd-doped CeO_(2) nanowires and polymer electrolytes,which promotes the Li-salt dissociation and increases the concentration of mobile Li ions in the composite polymer electrolytes.The optimized composite polymer electrolyte has a high Li-ion conductivity of 5×10^(-4)4 S cm^(-1) at 30℃ and a large Li+transference number of 0.47.Moreover,the composite polymer electrolytes have excellent compatibility with the metallic lithium anode and high-voltage LiNi_(0.8)Mn _(0.1)Co_(0.1)O_(2)(NMC)cathode,providing the stable cycling of all-solid-state batteries at high current densities.

Electrochemical behaviors of novel composite polymer electrolytes for lithium batteries

A novel composite polymer electrolyte was prepared by blending an appropriateamount of LiClO_4 and 10 percent (mass fraction) fumed SiO_2 with the block copolymer of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) synthesized by poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) 400 and CH_2C1_2 The ionicconductivity, electrochemical stability, interfacial characteristic and thermal behavior of thecomposite polymer electrolyte were studied by the measurements of AC impedance spectroscopy, linearsweep voltammetry and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively. The glass transitiontemperature acts as a function of salt concentration, which increases with the LiClO_4 content.Lewis acid-base model interaction mechanism was introduced to interpret the interactive relationbetween the filled fumed SiO_2 and the lithium salt in the composite polymer electrolyte. Over thesalt concentration range and the measured temperature, the maximum ionic conductivity of thecomposite polymer electrolyte (10^(-4.41) S/cm) appeared at EO/Li=25 (mole ratio) and 30 deg C, andthe beginning oxidative degradation potential versus Li beyond 5 V.

Lithium–matrix composite anode protected by a solid electrolyte layer for stable lithium metal batteries

Lithium (Li) metal with an ultrahigh specific theoretical capacity and the lowest reduction potential is strongly considered as a promising anode for high-energy-density batteries. However, uncontrolled lithium dendrites and infinite volume change during repeated plating/stripping cycles hinder its practical applications immensely. Herein, a house-like Li anode (housed Li) was designed to circumvent the above issues. The house matrix was composed of carbon fiber matrix and affords a stable structure to relieve the volume change. An artificial solid electrolyte layer was formed on composite Li metal, just like the roof of a house, which facilitates uniform Li ions diffusion and serves as a physical barrier against electrolyte corrosion. With the combination of solid electrolyte layer and matrix in the composite Li metal anode, both dendrite growth and volume expansion are remarkably inhibited. The housed Li|LiFePO4 batteries exhibited over 95% capacity retention after 500 cycles at 1.0 C in coin cell and 85% capacity retention after 80 cycles at 0.5 C in pouch cell. The rationally combination of solid electrolyte layer protection and housed framework in one Li metal anode sheds fresh insights on the design principle of a safe and long-lifespan Li metal anode for Li metal batteries.