A zeolite/polyimide composite separator with a spongy-like structure was prepared by phase inversion methods based on heat-resistant polyimide (PI) polymer matrix and ZSM-5 zeolite filler, with the aim to improve the thermal stability and electrochemical properties of corresponding batteries. The separator exhibits enhanced thermal stability and no shrinkage up to 180 °C. The introduction of a certain number of ZSM-5 zeolites endows the composite separator with enhanced wettability and electrolyte uptake, better facilitating the free transport of lithium-ion. Furthermore, the composite separator shows a high ionic conductivity of 1.04 mS cm-1 at 25 °C, and a high decomposition potential of 4.7 V. Compared with the PP separator and pristine PI separator, the ZSM-5/PI composite separator based LiFePO4/Li cells have better rate capability (133 mAh g-1 at 2 C) and cycle performance (145 mAh g-1 at 0.5 C after 50 cycles). These results demonstrate that the ZSM-5/PI composite separator is promising for high-performance and high-safety lithium-ion batteries.
Keywords: lithium-ion batteries; phase inversion; polyimide; spongy-like; zeolite.