Overcoming the Obstacle of Polymer-Polymer Resistances in Double Layer Solid Polymer Electrolytes

J Phys Chem Lett. 2021 Mar 25;12(11):2809-2814. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c00366. Epub 2021 Mar 12.

Abstract

Double-layer solid polymer electrolytes (DLSPEs) comprising one layer that is stable toward lithium metal and one which is stable against a high-voltage cathode are commonly suggested as a promising strategy to achieve high-energy-density lithium batteries. Through in-depth EIS analysis, it is here concluded that the polymer-polymer interface is the primary contributor to electrolyte resistance in such DLSPEs consisting of polyether-, polyester-, or polycarbonate-bad SPEs. In comparison to the bulk ionic resistance, the polymer-polymer interface resistance is approximately 10-fold higher. Nevertheless, the interfacial resistance was successfully lowered by doubling the salt concentration from 25 to 50 wt % LiTFSI owing to improved miscibility at the interface of the two polymer layers.