Research progress of cross-linked fiber membranes for lithium-ion battery separators

To conquer the intrinsic drawbacks of commercial polyolefin-based separators, cross-linked fiber porous mem-branes made of heat-resistant polymers are recently developed to meet the demands of advanced lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with high energy density and safety. Herein, for the first time, we present the recent progress of cross-linked fiber membranes as separators for LIBs. We briefly introduce the basic functions and performance requirements of porous separators for LIBs, and highlight the superiority of the cross-linked fiber porous sepa-rators compared to the conventional fiber separators. Then, we elaborate on the existing preparation techniques of cross-linked fiber separators in a separate section, including the thermal crosslinking, adhesion and alkaline hydrolysis methods, along with commenting on their respective advantages and functions. Meanwhile, several typical cross-linked fiber separators reported recently are discussed. On the above basis, the current research gaps and future research challenges of cross-linked fiber separators are summarized and prospected.

Automated summary

To overcome the shortcomings of commercial polyolefin-based separators, cross-linked fiber porous membranes made of heat-resistant polymers have been developed for advanced lithium-ion batteries. This paper presents the recent progress of cross-linked fiber membranes as separators for LIBs. It introduces the basic functions and performance requirements of porous separators for LIBs, highlights the superiority of cross-linked fiber porous separators compared to conventional fiber separators, and discusses the existing preparation techniques and recent reports of cross-linked fiber separators. The research gaps and future challenges of cross-linked fiber separators are also summarized and prospected.