Remarkable heat-resistant halloysite nanotube/polyetherimide composite nanofiber membranes for high performance gel polymer electrolyte in lithium ion batteries

• Published in: Journal of electroanalytical chemistry (Lausanne, Switzerland) Vol. 808; pp. 303 - 310
• Main Authors: Wang, Huiyuan, Zhang, Sasa, Zhu, Ming, Sui, Gang, Yang, Xiaoping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.01.2018; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Batteries; Crystallization; Electrochemical performance; Electrolytes; Electrolytic cells; Energy storage; Gel polymer electrolyte; Halloysite nanotube; Heat resistance; Heat resistant materials; Interface stability; Ion currents; Lithium-ion batteries; Membranes; Nanofiber membrane; Nanofibers; Nanotubes; Polyetherimide; Polyetherimides; Porosity; Rechargeable batteries; Stability analysis; Studies; Thermal stability; Electrochemical performance; Nanofiber membrane; Gel polymer electrolyte; Polyetherimide; Halloysite nanotube
• ISSN: 1572-6657; 1873-2569
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jelechem.2017.12.034

The high performance gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) based on remarkable heat-resistant composite nanofiber membrane composed of polyetherimide (PEI) and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) were obtained through the activation of stacked membranes immersed into liquid electrolyte. The crystallization behavior, microstructure and thermal stability of nanofiber membranes were analyzed. The HNT/PEI composite nanofiber membranes showed the sufficient porosity and good affinity between the nanofibers and the electrolyte as well as the electrode, which led to a superb saturated electrolyte uptake and conservation rate. Thus, the GPEs involving the HNT/PEI composite nanofiber membranes displayed excellent electrochemical performances, such as high ionic conductivity, adequate lithium-ion transference number, good interfacial stability and cycle performance. In particular, the GPEs based on 1wt% HNT/PEI nanofiber membranes demonstrated high ionic conductivity of 5.30×10−3Scm−1 and low interfacial resistance of 180Ω. In addition, in contrast with the Li/GPE/LiCoO2 cells containing the commercial Celgard 2500, the assembled cells with the 1wt% HNT/PEI nanofiber membranes possessed outstanding initial discharge capacity, cycle performance and C-rate capability. Consequently, the GPEs involving HNT/PEI heat-resistant skeleton materials can satisfy the high-performance requirements of energy storage devices. [Display omitted] •The halloysite nanotube (HNT)/polyetherimide (PEI) composite nanofiber membranes possessed the remarkable thermal stability.•The gel polymer electrolyte (GPEs) based on the HNT/PEI composite nanofiber membranes presented high ionic conductivity of 5.30×10−3Scm−1.•The GPEs with optimized HNT/PEI nanofiber membranes delivered high capacity retention of 94% after 50 cycles.•The GPEs involving superior heat-resistant materials can satisfy high-performance requirements of energy storage devices.