Researchers from China's Jiangsu University and Changzhou University have developed a non-ceramic solid-state electrolyte based on a graphene oxide (GO) aerogel framework filled with polyethylene oxide.
Li-ion batteries currently perform a key role in electric cars, but contain combustible liquid electrolytic materials which may pose major safety issues. The solid-state electrolyte (SSE) can replace the standard organic liquid electrolyte and is predicted to address safety issues such as leaking, heat runaway, and even explosions during operation.
Nonflammable gel, for instance, is created by hydrogen-bonding connections or other ways and used as an interstitial layer to enhance the effectiveness of SSE batteries.
Due to its low weight, superior flexibility, and remarkable producibility, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based polymeric electrolyte is among the most intensively investigated SSEs. Furthermore, PEO has a somewhat crystalline helix structure, and its oxyethylene components have strong alkali-metal salt solubility.
Although increasing the heat may raise the fraction of disorganized phases, the higher working temperatures may cause semi-melting or melting of the polymeric electrolyte layer during both chargings as well as discharging cycles, which could potentially lead to perforation by lithium dendrites.
Several approaches have been undertaken to resolve the conflict between ionic conductivity and Li dendrites. One approach is to utilize fillers or plasticizers like nanoscale SiO2, cationic liquids, and trace quantities of grafted graphene oxide (GO), which may lower the concentration of PEO crystal areas while increasing the quantity of unbound ethylene oxide (EO) sections.
However, because of aggregation, certain nanosized materials often diminish the acid-base engagement among each other and the Li salt.
Due to the chase of ionic conductance, this technique reduces the electrolyte's capacity to suppress dendrites. Another thing that can be done is is to customize the framework of electrolytes.
To enhance ionic deposition on the electrode's surface, a simple method is to adopt a multilayer architecture, such as two or three-layer, and to pick electrolytes with varied interfacial characteristics.
Multilayering, on the other hand, could raise the thickness of the electrolytes, influencing ionic conductance. Furthermore, an interior architectural design is crucial since modifying the architecture is a good way to tackle the solid electrolyte problems.
Furthermore, even though lithium electrolytic deposition behavior is an important aspect, homogenizing it has only been scarcely researched thus far.
Graphene oxide has a high concentration of oxygen-carrying functional groups, which have strong affinities for lithium ions and promote the dissolution of lithium salts.
In the ionic conduction mechanism, the network structure serves two primary tasks. Firstly, the extensive GO network within the membrane may help in making ion-current dispersion more consistent, preventing the linear development of lithium dendrites and increasing the life of the battery.
Secondly, as a micro-sized inorganic supplement, GO may disturb the dispersion of organized crystalline regions in PEO to some amount, enhancing ionic conduction and allowing the batteries to be evaluated routinely.
Meanwhile, GO is less expensive and simpler to make, and it can be readily blended with other materials and polymers to improve qualities such as tensile strength.
The high-porosity network structure of the GSPE, the graphene oxide aerogel/PEO composite electrolyte developed in this research, reportedly resulted in significant Li-ion conduction.
The GO architecture enhanced the unstructured components of the electrolyte, facilitated lithium salt dissolution, and improved interaction among lithium ions and unbounded segments.
The built LFP| GSPE|Li battery retained about 94% of its capacity following 100 cycles and could be operated continuously for over 450 hours.
The team discovered that GSPE has an excellent homogenizing ability for Li deposition, successfully minimizing battery short circuits produced by Li dendrites. This multilayer network structure's development concept is crucial not only for SSE electrolytes, but also for the future iterations of Li-ion batteries with higher energy densities and better safety criteria compliance.