Self‐Enhancing Gel Polymer Electrolyte by In Situ Construction for Enabling Safe Lithium Metal Battery

• DOI: 10.1002/advs.202103663
• Publication Date: 2021-12-11T08:48:07Z
• Authors: Dongli Chen; Ming Zhu; Peibin Kang; Tao Zhu; Haocheng Yuan; Jinle Lan; Xiaoping Yang; Gang Sui
• Keywords: Lithium battery; Lithium metal

Lithium metal battery (LMB) possessing a high theoretical capacity is promising candidate of advanced energy storage devices. However, its safety and stability are challenged by lithium dendrites the leakage liquid electrolyte. Here, self-enhancing gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) created in situ polymerizing 1,3-dioxolane (DOL) nanofibrous skeleton for enabling safe LMB. The nanofiber membrane possesses better affinity with poly-DOL (PDOL) than commercial separator constructing homogeneous GPE enhanced ion conductivity. Furthermore, polydopamine introduced on to form hydrogen bonding PDOL bis((trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl)imide anion, dramatically improving mechanical strength, ionic conductivity, transference number GPE. Besides, molecular dynamic simulation used reveal intrinsic factors conductivity reinforcing effect meantime. Consequently, LiFePO4 //Li batteries using show extraordinary cyclic over 800 cycles under current density 2 C, decay 0.021% per cycle, effectively suppressing growth dendrites. This ingenious strategy expected manufacture performance LMBs compatible production.