Design of High-Voltage Stable Hybrid Electrolyte with an Ultrahigh Li Transference Number

Considering the high energy consumption during processing, and the low compliance and adhesion of ceramic electrolytes, the integration of polymer into ceramic electrolytes provides a way to mitigate the interfacial issues. However, the severe ion concentration gradient, low ionic conductivity, and instability toward Li metal and high-voltage cathodes become the major concerns in applying hybrid electrolytes. In this work, we report a single-ionconducting hybrid electrolyte (SIE-LLZO) with 64 wt % Li7La3Zr2O12(LLZO) particles embedded in a fluoroboron-centered Li-conductive polymer framework (LiBFSIE). The SIE-LLZO electrolyte exhibited a high Li transference number of 0.94 and electrochemical stability up to 5.6 V vs Li/Li+. Promising averaged Coulombic efficiencies of 99.97% and 99.91% were achieved in cells with LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 and LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2 cathodes for 400 and 200 cycles, respectively. The Li-conducting pathway in the hybrid electrolyte was further investigated by a Li-6-to-Li-7 isotope replacement method, indicating that Li transport mainly relies on the LLZO and interface between LiBFSIE and LLZO.

Automated summary

This study presents a hybrid electrolyte with single-ion conductivity, combining polymer with ceramic electrolytes, showing high Li transference number and good electrochemical stability. Compared to traditional electrolytes, this hybrid electrolyte exhibits high Coulombic efficiencies in lithium-ion batteries.