Converting Nafion into Li+-Conductive Nanoporous Materials

作者：Gao, Weitao; Sheng, Li^*; Chen, Jia; Gong, Fan; Tang, Zhuozhuo; Yin, Qinan; Yang, Kai; Tu, Ziqiang; Li, Yang; Wang, Li; Wang, Jianlong; Tang, Yaping; Xu, Hong^*; Wang, Cheng^*; He, Xiangming^*

来源：Small, 2023, 19(37).

DOI：10.1002/smll.202300697

• lithium metal batteries
• Nafion
• nanoporous materials
• sulfonated polymers
• theoretical calculation

Sulfonated polymers have long been used as proton-conducting materials in fuel cells, and their ionic transport features are highly attractive for electrolytes in lithium-ion/metal batteries (LIBs/LMBs). However, most studies are still based on a preconceived notion of using them directly as polymeric ionic carriers, which precludes exploring them as nanoporous media to construct efficient lithium ions (Li+) transport network. Here, effective Li+-conducting channels realized by swelling nanofibrous Nafion is demonstrated, which is a classical sulfonated polymer in fuel cells. The sulfonic acid groups, interact with LIBs liquid electrolytes to form porous ionic matrix of Nafion and assist partial desolvation of Li+-solvates to further enhance Li+ transport. Li-symmetric cells and Li-metal full cells (Li4Ti5O12 or high-voltage LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 as a cathode) with such membrane show excellent cycling performance and stabilized Li-metal anode. The finding provides a strategy to convert the vast sulfonated polymer family into efficient Li+ electrolyte, promoting the development of high-energy-density LMBs.

• 单位
  清华大学