Flexible and thin sulfide-based solid electrolyte sheet with Li+-ion conductive polymer network for all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries

All-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) with solid electrolytes are promising battery systems capable of improving the safety and energy density of current lithium-ion batteries. Reducing the thickness of the solid electrolyte while preventing the short circuit between the anode and cathode is imperative to increase the energy density of ASSLBs. Sulfide-based solid electrolytes have high ionic conductivities; however, they are brittle, difficult to be processed into a thin film, and challenging to form stable interfaces with electrodes of large volume change. In this study, flexible thin-solid electrolyte sheets with Li+-ion conductive polymer network were prepared and characterized for ASSLB applications. They exhibited higher ionic conductance and superior mechanical properties than those of pristine Li6PS5X (argyrodite) pellets. The all-solid-state lithium-ion cell (graphite/LiNi0.7Co0.15Mn0.15O2) with a solid electrolyte sheet delivered a high discharge capacity of 182.5 mAh g−1 and showed good cycling stability at 0.33 C and 25 ℃, demonstrating that flexible and thin sheets are promising solid electrolytes for ASSLBs operating at room temperature.