The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

The mechanical properties of solid electrolytes are critical for the stable operation of lithium metal batteries (LMBs). However, in typical polymer electrolytes, tuning mechanical properties, such as adjusting crosslinking density, often affects ionic conductivity. Because of this, it is difficult to clarify the specific role of mechanical properties in battery performance.
In this study, we developed an elastomeric electrolyte composed of separate ion-conducting and mechanical-supporting phases, enabling independent control over ionic conductivity and mechanical properties. This design enables tuning of the electrolyte's toughness, resilience, and adhesion energy by varying the crosslinking density in the mechanical-supporting phase without significantly affecting ionic conductivity. We evaluated mechanical properties and cell performance under room and low-temperature conditions using this system to offer guidelines for designing solid electrolytes for stable solid-state LMBs.