The traditional polyolefin separators used in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are plagued by limitations such as poor wetting of electrolytes and insufficient thermal stability, hindering the progress of LIBs. To overcome these limitations, we have developed a modified phase inversion technique to efficiently and durably coat polyolefin separators with poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK). The resulting PEEK-coated polyolefin separators exhibit mechanical properties similar to those of unmodified polyolefin separators, with comparable tensile strength and modulus. Furthermore, the PEEK coating provides outstanding thermal stability, as the modified separators maintain their stability even at temperatures up to 200 °C, which is among the best results reported for polyolefin-based separators. In addition, the PEEK coating enhances ionic conductivity by more than 100% compared to polyolefin counterparts, leading to significant improvement in the electrochemical performance of prototype half cells. The modified phase inversion technique presented here offers a practical solution for coating polyolefin separators with functional polymers, paving the way for next-generation separator materials.
Keywords: ionic conductivity; lithium-ion batteries; poly(ether ether ketone); polyolefin separators; thermal dimensional stability.