20 March 2024 | Hangchao Wang, Yali Yang, Chuan Gao, Tao Chen, Jin Song, Yuxuan Zuo, Qiu Fang, Tonghuan Yang, Wukun Xiao, Kun Zhang, Xuefeng Wang, Dingguo Xia
This study reports the development of an entanglement association polymer electrolyte (PVFH-PVCA) for Li-metal batteries. The electrolyte, composed of a poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVFH) matrix and a copolymer stabilizer (PVCA), is designed to improve the interface stability between Li-rich Mn-based oxide cathodes and electrolytes. The entangled structure of PVFH-PVCA imparts excellent mechanical properties, eliminates stress from dendrite growth, and forms a stable interface layer, enabling Li//Li symmetric cells to cycle steadily for over 4500 hours at 8 mA cm\(^{-2}\). PVCA acts as a stabilizer, promoting the formation of an electrochemically robust cathode-electrolyte interphase, delivering high specific capacity and excellent cycling stability with 84.7% capacity retention after 400 cycles. The PVFH-PVCA electrolyte also shows promising performance in full cells, achieving 125 cycles at 1 C (4.8 V cut-off) with a stable discharge capacity of ~2.5 mAh cm\(^{-2}\) for Li\(_{1.2}\)Mn\(_{0.56}\)Ni\(_{0.16}\)Co\(_{0.08}\)O\(_2\)/PVFH-PVCA/Li. The study highlights the potential of PVFH-PVCA as a high-performance polymer electrolyte for Li-metal batteries, addressing the challenges of dendrite growth and improving safety and energy density.This study reports the development of an entanglement association polymer electrolyte (PVFH-PVCA) for Li-metal batteries. The electrolyte, composed of a poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVFH) matrix and a copolymer stabilizer (PVCA), is designed to improve the interface stability between Li-rich Mn-based oxide cathodes and electrolytes. The entangled structure of PVFH-PVCA imparts excellent mechanical properties, eliminates stress from dendrite growth, and forms a stable interface layer, enabling Li//Li symmetric cells to cycle steadily for over 4500 hours at 8 mA cm\(^{-2}\). PVCA acts as a stabilizer, promoting the formation of an electrochemically robust cathode-electrolyte interphase, delivering high specific capacity and excellent cycling stability with 84.7% capacity retention after 400 cycles. The PVFH-PVCA electrolyte also shows promising performance in full cells, achieving 125 cycles at 1 C (4.8 V cut-off) with a stable discharge capacity of ~2.5 mAh cm\(^{-2}\) for Li\(_{1.2}\)Mn\(_{0.56}\)Ni\(_{0.16}\)Co\(_{0.08}\)O\(_2\)/PVFH-PVCA/Li. The study highlights the potential of PVFH-PVCA as a high-performance polymer electrolyte for Li-metal batteries, addressing the challenges of dendrite growth and improving safety and energy density.