Flexible, solid-state, ion-conducting membrane with 3D garnet nanofiber networks for lithium batteries.
Beyond state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery (LIB) technology with metallic lithium anodes to replace conventional ion intercalation anode materials is highly desirable because of lithium's highest specific capacity (3,860 mA/g) and lowest negative electrochemical potential (∼3.040 V vs. the standard hydrogen electrode). In this work, we report for the first time, to our knowledge, a 3D lithium-ion-conducting ceramic network based on garnet-type Li6.4La3Zr2Al0.2O12 (LLZO) lithium-ion conductor to provide continuous Li(+) transfer channels in a polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based composite. This composite structure further provides structural reinforcement to enhance the mechanical properties of the polymer matrix. The flexible solid-state electrolyte composite membrane exhibited an ionic conductivity of 2.5 × 10(-4) S/cm at room temperature. The membrane can effectively block dendrites in a symmetric Li | electrolyte | Li cell during repeated lithium stripping/plating at room temperature, with a current density of 0.2 mA/cm(2) for around 500 h and a current density of 0.5 mA/cm(2) for over 300 h. These results provide an all solid ion-conducting membrane that can be applied to flexible LIBs and other electrochemical energy storage systems, such as lithium-sulfur batteries.
University of Maryland Energy Research Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742.
Kun Kelvin
KK
Fu
University of Maryland Energy Research Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742;
Yunhui
Y
Gong
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742.
Jiaqi
J
Dai
University of Maryland Energy Research Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742.
Amy
A
Gong
University of Maryland Energy Research Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742.
Xiaogang
X
Han
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742.
Yonggang
Y
Yao
University of Maryland Energy Research Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742.
Chengwei
C
Wang
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742.
Yibo
Y
Wang
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742.
Yanan
Y
Chen
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742.
Chaoyi
C
Yan
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742.
Yiju
Y
Li
University of Maryland Energy Research Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 ewach@umd.edu binghu@umd.edu.
Eric D
ED
Wachsman
University of Maryland Energy Research Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 ewach@umd.edu binghu@umd.edu.
Liangbing
L
Hu
3D garnet nanofibers; flexible membrane; ionic conductor; polyethylene oxide; solid-state electrolyte