Graphite oxide dopping polyimide nanofiber membrane via electrospinning for high performance lithium-ion batteries

The battery separator is an important component of the battery which is related to the safety of the battery. However, there are many flaws of traditional lithium ion battery separator made by polyolefin, especially thermal stability and wettability. It was necessary, therefore, to invent a battery that heat resistance and electrolyte wettability. Here, we use the polyimide (PI) as a base material and graphene oxide (GO) as a reinforcing material, and get the nanofiber membrane through electrospinning technology, with the feature of three dimensional porous. Results show that as prepared PI nanofiber membrane possesses excellent thermal stability (no shrinkage even up to 200 degrees C), and admirable electrolyte absorption rate (2200%), which further significantly improves the ionic conductivity (2.04041 mS/cm). In addition, cells assembled with PI nanofiber membrane deliver outstanding cycling performance and C-rate discharge capability compared with 2400 separator in the same conditions. It is indicates that as-fabricated PI nanofiber separator has the potential of becoming a more mature technology offering better performance.