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A Single‐Ion Conducting Borate Network Polymer as a Viable Quasi‐Solid Electrolyte for Lithium Metal Batteries
Author(s) -
Shin DongMyeong,
Bachman Jonathan E.,
Taylor Mercedes K.,
Kamcev Jovan,
Park Jesse G.,
Ziebel Michael E.,
Velasquez Ever,
Jarenwattana Nanette N.,
Sethi Gurmukh K.,
Cui Yi,
Long Jeffrey R.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201905771
Subject(s) - materials science , electrolyte , electrochemistry , electrochemical window , ionic conductivity , lithium (medication) , battery (electricity) , anode , polymer , chemical engineering , fast ion conductor , organic radical battery , thermal stability , electrode , inorganic chemistry , composite material , chemistry , medicine , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering , endocrinology
Lithium‐ion batteries have remained a state‐of‐the‐art electrochemical energy storage technology for decades now, but their energy densities are limited by electrode materials and conventional liquid electrolytes can pose significant safety concerns. Lithium metal batteries featuring Li metal anodes, solid polymer electrolytes, and high‐voltage cathodes represent promising candidates for next‐generation devices exhibiting improved power and safety, but such solid polymer electrolytes generally do not exhibit the required excellent electrochemical properties and thermal stability in tandem. Here, an interpenetrating network polymer with weakly coordinating anion nodes that functions as a high‐performing single‐ion conducting electrolyte in the presence of minimal plasticizer, with a wide electrochemical stability window, a high room‐temperature conductivity of 1.5 × 10 −4 S cm −1 , and exceptional selectivity for Li‐ion conduction ( t Li+ = 0.95) is reported. Importantly, this material is also flame retardant and highly stable in contact with lithium metal. Significantly, a lithium metal battery prototype containing this quasi‐solid electrolyte is shown to outperform a conventional battery featuring a polymer electrolyte.