A Single‐Ion Conducting Borate Network Polymer as a Viable Quasi‐Solid Electrolyte for Lithium Metal Batteries

Journal Article · 27 January 2020 · Advanced Materials

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201905771 · OSTI ID:1595168

Shin, Dong‐Myeong  ^[1]; Bachman, Jonathan E. ^[2]; Taylor, Mercedes K. ^[3]; Kamcev, Jovan  ^[4]; Park, Jesse G. ^[4]; Ziebel, Michael E. ^[4]; Velasquez, Ever ^[5]; Jarenwattananon, Nanette N. ^[4]; Sethi, Gurmukh K. ^[6]; Cui, Yi ^[2]; Long, Jeffrey R.  ^[7]

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1. Department of Chemistry University of California, Berkeley Berkeley CA 94720 USA, Department of Mechanical Engineering The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Road 999077 Hong Kong China
2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
3. Department of Chemistry University of California, Berkeley Berkeley CA 94720 USA, Materials Sciences Division Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA 94720 USA
4. Department of Chemistry University of California, Berkeley Berkeley CA 94720 USA
5. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering University of California, Berkeley Berkeley CA 94720 USA
6. Department of Materials Science and Engineering University of California Berkeley Berkeley CA 94720 USA
7. Department of Chemistry University of California, Berkeley Berkeley CA 94720 USA, Materials Sciences Division Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA 94720 USA, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering University of California, Berkeley Berkeley CA 94720 USA

Abstract 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.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 1595168
• Journal Information: Advanced Materials, Journal Name: Advanced Materials Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 32; ISSN 0935-9648
• Publisher: Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement
• Country of Publication: Germany
• Language: English