Improving Fast and Safe Transfer of Lithium Ions in Solid-State Lithium Batteries by Porosity and Channel Structure of Polymer Electrolyte

Solid-state lithium batteries using solid polymer electrolytes can improve the safety and energy density of batteries. Smoother lithium-ion channels are necessary for solid polymer electrolytes with high ionic conductivity. The porosity and channel structure of the polymer film affect the transfer of lithium ions. However, their controllable synthesis remains a big challenge. Here, we developed a simple synthesis approach toward wrinkled microporous polymer electrolytes by combining the amphoteric (water solubility and organic solubility) polymer in three polymer blends. The homogeneous blend solution spontaneously wrinkled to vertical fold channels as the solvent evaporated. Two minor polymers, poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and polyetherimide (PEI), formed close stacks, and Janus PVP was dispersed in the poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) matrix. The interfacial tensions between the three polymers were different, so stress was produced when they solidified. The solvent was evaporated to the top layer of the polymers when the temperature increased. The bottom layer wrinkled owing to the stress during solidification. The evaporation of the solvent generated micropores to form the lithium-ion channel. They helped Li+ transference and created a wrinkled microporous PVDF-based polymer electrolyte, which achieved an ionic conductivity of 5.1 × 10-4 S cm-1 and a lithium-ion transference number of 0.51 at room temperature. Meanwhile, the good flame retardancy and tensile strength of the polymer electrolyte film can improve the safety of the battery. At 0.5C and room temperature, the batteries with a LiFePO4 cathode and the wrinkled microporous LiTFSI/PEI/PVP/PVDF electrolyte reached a high discharge specific capacity of 122.1 mAh g-1 at the 100th cycle with a Coulombic efficiency of above 99%. The results of tensile and self-extinguishing tests show that the polymer electrolyte film has good safety application prospects.