Leveraging battery performance through mechanically interlocked polymers

Abstract

Batteries are essential energy storage devices for renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower. The development of high-performance batteries with enhanced energy density, safety and stability often involves the development and optimization of polymeric components, including polymer electrolytes, electrode binders and coatings. Mechanically interlocked polymers (MIPs), which exhibit unique dynamics and adaptabilities due to their embedded mechanical bond motifs, have emerged as promising polymer materials. Their application in batteries has gained significant attraction in the past decade, albeit constrained by the synthetic challenges associated with these unconventional bonds. Nevertheless, integrating novel MIPs into batteries – whether as electrolytes, binders or coatings – has demonstrated considerable potential for improving battery performance. While the exploration of novel MIPs holds inherent scientific interest, their application in batteries highlights the exciting intersection between polymer design and battery technology. In this review, we summarize the progress made toward leveraging MIP materials for enhanced battery performance, aiming to inspire innovative, scalable MIP designs and underscore the significant opportunities at the interface of MIP chemistry and battery research.