The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) are considered next-generation energy storage systems due to their high energy density. However, the growth of lithium dendrites necessitates the use of solid-state electrolytes such as polymer electrolytes. 1,3-Dioxolane (DOL) has gained considerable attention for its compatibility with LMBs and its ability to undergo ring-opening polymerization (ROP). Nevertheless, ROP-derived polyDOL has a linear structure that results in low mechanical strength. To address this limitation, we developed a dual-network gel polymer electrolytes (DNGPEs) by incorporating elastomeric acrylate monomers into the ROP system. This structure significantly improved the mechanical integrity and electrochemical stability. As a result, the electrolytes exhibited stable cycling in lithium symmetric cell tests and high capacity retention in NCM811 half-cell evaluations. In conclusion, this DNGPEs system shows strong potential for enabling stable and high-performance LMBs.