Supramolecular Network Structured Gel Polymer Electrolyte with High Ionic Conductivity for Lithium Metal Batteries

Polymer-based solid electrolytes (PSEs) offer great promise in developing lithium metal batteries due to their attractive features such as safety, light weight, low cost, and high processability. However, a PSE-based lithium battery usually requires a relatively high temperature (60 degrees C or above) to complete charge and discharge due to the poor ionic conductivity of PSEs. Herein, a gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) film with a supramolecular network structure through a facile one-step photopolymerization is designed and developed. The crosslinked structure and quadruple hydrogen bonding fulfil the GPEs with high thermal stability and good mechanical property with a maximum tensile strain of 48%. The obtained GPEs possess a high ionic conductivity of 3.8 x 10(-3) S cm(-1) at 25 degrees C and a decomposition voltage >= 4.6 V (vs Li/Li+). The cells assembled with LiFePO4 cathode and Li anode, present an initial discharge specific capacity of 155.6 mAh g(-1) and a good cycling efficiency with a capacity retention rate of 81.1% after 100 charges/discharge cycles at 0.1 C at ambient temperature. This work encompasses a route to develop high performance PSEs that can be operated at room temperature for future lithium metal batteries.

Automated summary

Polymer-based solid electrolytes (PSEs) show potential for developing lithium metal batteries due to their attractive features. However, their poor ionic conductivity requires high temperatures for charge and discharge. This study presents a gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) film with a supramolecular network structure, offering high thermal stability, good mechanical property, and high ionic conductivity at room temperature.