Compliant glass–polymer hybrid single ion-conducting electrolytes for lithium batteries

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 113; no. 1; pp. 52 - 57
• Main Authors: Villaluenga, Irune, Wujcik, Kevin H., Tong, Wei, Devaux, Didier, Wong, Dominica H. C., DeSimone, Joseph M., Balsara, Nitash P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Academy of Sciences 05.01.2016; National Acad Sciences; National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC (United States)
• Subjects: Batteries; Chemical Sciences; Electrocatalysis; Electrodes; Electrolytes; ENERGY STORAGE; fluorinated polymers; hybrid electrolytes; inorganic sulfide glasses; Ions; lithium batteries; lithium-sulfur batteries; Material chemistry; Physical Sciences; Polymers; Spectrum analysis; fluorinated polymers; hybrid electrolytes; lithium-sulfur batteries; lithium batteries; inorganic sulfide glasses
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1520394112

Despite high ionic conductivities, current inorganic solid electrolytes cannot be used in lithium batteries because of a lack of compliance and adhesion to active particles in battery electrodes as they are discharged and charged. We have successfully developed a compliant, nonflammable, hybrid single ion-conducting electrolyte comprising inorganic sulfide glass particles covalently bonded to a perfluoropolyether polymer. The hybrid with 23 wt% perfluoropolyether exhibits low shear modulus relative to neat glass electrolytes, ionic conductivity of 10⁻⁴ S/cm at room temperature, a cation transference number close to unity, and an electrochemical stability window up to 5 V relative to Li⁺/Li. X-ray absorption spectroscopy indicates that the hybrid electrolyte limits lithium polysulfide dissolution and is, thus, ideally suited for Li-S cells. Our work opens a previously unidentified route for developing compliant solid electrolytes that will address the challenges of lithium batteries.