INIDS1-1472
Design of Polymer-Inorganic Hybrid Interphases for Interfacial Stability in Lithium Metal Batteries
Topic
IDS1. KRICT 50th Anniversary session, Present and Future of Chemical Materials Research
When and Where
Sep 30, 2026
15:00 - 15:25
Room 105
Session Chairs
Yun Ho KIM
Presenter(s)
Jungdon Suk (KRICT)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) offer exceptional theoretical capacity, but their practical application is limited by severe interfacial instability and dendritic growth during continuous cycling. A functional protective layer must possess both mechanical stiffness and ionic conductivity to address these structural degradation issues. In this work, we present a polymer design approach utilizing a semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) to stabilize the lithium metal surface. The hybrid protective layer is fabricated via a scalable transfer-printing process, which effectively prevents direct solvent exposure to the highly reactive lithium anode. The hybrid matrix consists of a cross-linked polymer network that ensures mechanical integrity, combined with a plasticizing component to facilitate continuous Li-ion transport. To further reinforce the structural framework, ion-conducting ceramic fillers are embedded within the polymer matrix. This tailored polymer-inorganic network remains morphologically stable in liquid electrolytes without exhibiting swelling or delamination. Consequently, the composite structure physically restricts dendrite propagation and minimizes parasitic reactions, promoting the formation of a robust solid-electrolyte interface (SEI). Electrochemical evaluations confirm that the semi-IPN hybrid layer effectively stabilizes the lithium surface under cycling conditions. The modified cells exhibit prolonged cycle life and high capacity retention, even in practical full-cell configurations and large-area pouch cells with high areal loading. These results demonstrate that optimizing the mechanical and transport properties through structural polymer design is a practical strategy for achieving interfacial stability in lithium metal batteries.
