The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

Lithium (Li) metal batteries have garnered considerable attention as promising alternatives to conventional Li-ion batteries. Although rigid polymer electrolytes provide excellent dimensional stability, their inability to accommodate the large volume changes of Li metal during cycling has limited their practical application. Here, we report a surface-engineered solid polymer electrolyte that maintains stable interfacial contact with Li metal while preserving high mechanical stiffness. The tailored surface chemistry promotes the formation of a uniform and stable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), effectively suppressing dendritic Li growth and interfacial degradation. The optimized electrolyte enables stable full-cell operation under challenging conditions, including a limited Li source and a high-loading NMC811 cathode at ambient temperature, achieving a specific energy of 300 Wh kg^-1.