Phosphorus-Containing Polymer Electrolytes for Li Batteries

Lithium-ion polymer batteries, also known as lithium-polymer, abbreviated Li-po, are one of the main research topics nowadays in the field of energy storage. This review focuses on the use of the phosphorus containing compounds in Li-po batteries, such as polyphosphonates and polyphosphazenes. Li-po batteries are mini-devices, capable of providing power for any portable gadget. From a constructive point of view, Li-po batteries contain an anode (carbon), a cathode (metal oxide), and a polymer electrolyte, which could be liquid electrolytes or solid electrolytes. In general, a divider is used to keep the anode and cathode from touching each other directly. Since liquid electrolytes have a generally high ionic conductivity, they are frequently employed in Li-ion batteries. In the last decade, the research in this field has also focused on solving safety issues, such as the leakage of electrolytes and risk of ignition due to volatile and flammable organic solvents. The research topics in the field of Li-po remain focused on solving safety problems and improving performance.