Nitash Balsara, a scientist with the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Joseph DeSimone of the University of North Carolina, have jointly developed a highly conductive mixed electrolyte that combines two main types of solid electrolytes - polymers and glass.
Balsara says: "Electrolytes are compatible and deformable to stay in contact with the electrodes as the battery cycles, and this solid electrolyte also has unprecedented room temperature conductivity."
Electrolytes carry the charge between the cathode and anode of a battery, and most commercial batteries use the electrolyte. Researchers are working to develop a battery that uses all solid components for better performance, longer duration, and greater safety.
Both of these solid electrolyte-polymers and glass or ceramics have their own problems. Polymer electrolytes are poorly conductive at room temperature and need to be heated. However, ceramic electrolytes perform well at room temperature, but require a large pressure to maintain contact with the electrodes.
This glass-polymer hybrid electrolyte takes glass particles, attaches perfluoropolyether chains to the surface of the glass particles, adds salt, and then makes a film from these components. By adjusting the polymer to glass ratio, this produces a highly compatible electrolyte with high conductivity and excellent electrochemical stability at room temperature.
Although the conductivity is not as strong as that of a liquid electrolyte, 10-15 times lower. But for some applications it is enough. And we do not need the high conductivity of the liquid electrolyte because all the current in the mixed electrolyte is carried by the lithium ions, whereas in the traditional lithium electrolyte, only 20% to 30% of the current is carried by the lithium ions.
"People use 5-volt cathodes, but there is currently no electrolyte for 5-volt cathodes to stabilize," Balsara said. "But we've demonstrated that this electrolyte is stable to 5-volt cathodes."
Further experiments show that the mixed electrolyte is very suitable for sulfur cathode, low operating voltage, and high power generation, the price is cheap. In addition, unlike traditional liquid electrolyte lithium-sulfur batteries, this glass-polymer hybrid electrolyte is insoluble.
In a PNAS article, the researchers wrote: "While much remains to be done, our work will open an unknown path for hybrid solid electrolytes that will address the current challenges of lithium batteries. The DOE's Science Office funded this research.
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