High Li-ion conductive composite polymer electrolytes for all-solid-state Li-metal batteries

Rechargeable all-solid-state batteries have better safety and higher energy density than the commercial rechargeable Li-ion batteries with organic liquid electrolytes. However, it is still quite challenging to develop thin, flexible and high Li-ion conductive solid electrolyte for all-solid-state batteries. Here we develop a flexible poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based composite electrolyte with high ionic conductivity of 1.3 x 10(-4) S cm(-1) 30 degrees C. Fast Li-ion conductive NASICON Li1.3Al0.3Hf1.7(PO4)(3) (LAHP) powders with a high bulk ionic conductivity of 7 x 10(-4) S cm(-1) at 25 degrees C are added into PEO-LiTFSI electrolyte to increase the total Li-ion conductivity of the electrolyte. Solid nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has been employed to analyze the Li-ion conducting mechanism of the electrolyte. Moreover, the composite electrolyte PEO-LiTFSI-20LAHP with a more amorphous component shows better electrochemical stability than the PEO-LiTFSI electrolyte. The performance of the electrolyte PEO-LiTFSI-20LAHP is also tested in different all-solid-state cells; the composite membrane blocked lithium-dendrite growth, which increases the cycling life of all-solid-state cells.

Automated summary

A high-performance flexible poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based composite electrolyte has been developed to enhance the safety and stability of all-solid-state batteries.