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Electrospun nanofiber‐coated separator membranes for lithium‐ion rechargeable batteries
Author(s) -
Lee Hun,
Alcoutlabi Mataz,
Watson Jill V.,
Zhang Xiangwu
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.38894
Subject(s) - membrane , nanofiber , polyvinylidene fluoride , materials science , electrolyte , electrospinning , chemical engineering , separator (oil production) , chlorotrifluoroethylene , hexafluoropropylene , polymer chemistry , electrode , composite material , tetrafluoroethylene , chemistry , copolymer , polymer , physics , engineering , thermodynamics , biochemistry
Nanofiber‐coated composite membranes were prepared by electrospinning polyvinylidene fluoride‐ co ‐chlorotrifluoroethylene (PVDF‐ co ‐CTFE) and PVDF‐ co ‐CTFE/polyvinylidene fluoride‐ co ‐hexafluoropropylene (PVDF‐ co ‐HFP) onto six different Celgard® microporous battery separator membranes. Application of a PVDF‐based copolymer nanofiber coating onto the surface of the battery separator membrane provides a method for improving the electrolyte absorption of the separator and the separator‐electrode adhesion. Peel tests showed that both PVDF‐ co ‐CTFE and PVDF‐ co ‐CTFE/PVDF‐ co ‐HFP nanofiber coatings have comparable adhesion to the membrane substrates. Electrolyte uptake capacity was investigated by soaking the nanofiber‐coated membranes in a liquid electrolyte solution. PVDF‐ co ‐CTFE and PVDF‐ co ‐CTFE/PVDF‐ co ‐HFP nanofiber‐coated membranes exhibited higher electrolyte uptake capacities than uncoated membranes. It was also found that PVDF‐ co ‐CTFE nanofiber‐coated membranes have higher electrolyte uptakes than PVDF‐ co ‐CTFE/PVDF‐ co ‐HFP nanofiber‐coated membranes due to the smaller diameters of PVDF‐ co ‐CTFE nanofibers and higher polarity of PVDF‐ co ‐CTFE. The separator–electrode adhesion properties were also investigated. Results showed PVDF‐ co ‐CTFE and PVDF‐ co ‐CTFE/PVDF‐ co ‐HFP nanofiber coatings improved the adhesion of all six membrane substrates to the electrode. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013