A self-standing, UV-cured semi-interpenetrating polymer network reinforced composite gel electrolytes for dendrite-suppressing lithium ion batteries

A self-standing, flexible and lithium dendrite growth-suppressing composite gel polymer electrolyte membrane was designed for the use of room-temperature lithium ion batteries. The multi-functional composite semi-interpenetrating polymer network (referred to as Cs-IPN) electrolyte membrane was fabricated by combining a UV-cured ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ETPTA) macromer with alumina nanoparticles in the presence of liquid electrolyte and thermoplastic linear poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). The polymer electrolyte membrane exhibits a semi-interpenetrating polymer network structure and a higher room temperature ionic conductivity, which impart the electrolyte with a significant cycling (120 mAh g(-1) after 200 cycles) and a remarkable rate (137 mAh g(-1) at 0.1 degrees C, 130 mAh g(-1) at 0.5 degrees C, 119 mAh g(-1) at 1 degrees C and 100 mAh g(-1) at 2 degrees C) performance in Li/LiFePO4 battery. More importantly, the polymer electrolyte possesses superior ability to inhibit the growth of lithium dendrites, which makes it promising for next generation lithium ion batteries. (C) 2018 The Chinese Ceramic Society. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.