High Lithium Salt Content PVDF-Based Solid-State Composite Polymer Electrolyte Enhanced by h-BN Nanosheets

Due to the unique safety qualities, solid composite polymer electrolyte (SCPE) has achieved considerable attentions to fabricate high-energy-density lithium metal batteries, but its overall performance still has to be improved. Herein, a high lithium salt content poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-based SCPE was developed, enhanced by hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanosheets, presenting perfect electrochemical performance, fast ion transport, and efficient inhibition of lithium dendrite growth. The optimized SCPE (PVDF-L70-B5) could deliver high ionic conductivity (2.98x10(-4) S cm(-1)), ultra-high Li+ ion transfer number (0.62), wide electrochemical stability window (5.24 V), and strong mechanical strength (3.45 MPa) at room temperature. Density functional theory calculation further confirmed that the presence of h-BN could promote the dissociation of bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide lithium (LiTFSI) and the rapid transfer of Li+ ions. As a result, the assembled symmetric Li/Li battery and asymmetric Li/LiFePO4 battery using PVDF-L70-B5 SCPEs both exhibited high reversible capacity, long-term cycle stability, and high-rate performance when cycled at 60 or 30 degrees C. The designed SCPEs will open up a new route to synthesize solid-state lithium batteries with high energy density and high safety.

Automated summary

In this study, a high lithium salt content PVDF-based SCPE was developed and enhanced with h-BN nanosheets, resulting in high ionic conductivity, wide electrochemical stability window, and strong mechanical strength. The lithium batteries using this SCPE showed high reversible capacity, long-term cycle stability, and high-rate performance, indicating potential for solid-state lithium batteries.