Solvent-Free Synthesis of the Polymer Electrolyte via Photo-Controlled Radical Polymerization: Toward Ultrafast In-Built Fabrication of Solid-State Batteries under Visible Light

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c21461
• Publication Date: 2021-02-11T14:54:09Z
• Authors: Peng Wen; Yucheng Zhao; Zongtao Wang; Jun Lin; Mao Chen; Xinrong Lin
• Keywords: in-built; Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified; SPE preparation processes; Ultrafast In-Built Fabrication; Photo-Controlled Radical Polymerization; discharge areal capacity; lithium dendrite suppression behavior; Biochemistry; In-built electrolyte polymerization; 01 natural sciences; 7. Clean energy; cross-linked SPE electrolyte film; UV; 0104 chemical sciences; 3. Good health; Infectious Diseases; polymer electrolytes; Space Science; Medicine; Neuroscience; Biotechnology

Thin solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) with good processability, improved room-temperature ionic conductivity, and better interfacial compatibility are urgently needed to develop solid-state batteries without safety leakage issues. In-built electrolyte polymerization has emerged as a novel effective platform obtain such electrolytes. However, existing in-built methods usually involve heat, UV, γ irradiation, so forth initiate the often require addition of solvents avoid concentrated active propagating species, which inevitably afford solvent residues that persist in matrix, leading complex SPE preparation processes, hazards, side reactions electrodes. Herein, simple solvent-free poly(mPEGAA)-based film was achieved via photo-controlled radical under visible light irradiation an manner, resulted 99% monomer conversion within 5 min controlled molecular weight distribution. Thanks mild green conditions, thin, solvent-free, cross-linked obtained efficiently yet well-regulated gave rise conductivity 1.5 × 10–4 S cm–1 at 25 °C. As-prepared LiFePO4|Li based on thin exhibited high discharge areal capacity 1.7 mA h cm–2 (164.6 g–1) ambient temperature. Furthermore, system displayed lithium dendrite suppression behavior long-term charge–discharge cycling Li symmetric battery for over 270 h, representing enhanced stability capacities compared ex-built systems.