An ordered mesoporous silica framework based electrolyte with nanowetted interfaces for solid-state lithium batteries

Abstract

The practical applications of lithium metal as an anode material are hindered by the uncontrollable growth of lithium dendrites. Herein, an ordered mesoporous silica framework (MCM-41) based solid-state electrolyte (Li-IL@MCM-41 SSE) with nanoconfined ionic liquids is prepared through a post-impregnation method. The as-prepared electrolyte with nanowetted interfaces demonstrates suppression towards lithium dendrites, high thermal stability (up to 350 °C) and excellent electrochemical properties, such as high ionic conductivity (3.98 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ at 30 °C), a broad electrochemical potential window (up to 5.2 V) and good compatibility with different electroactive materials. The solid-state batteries (SSBs) assembled exhibited excellent cycling performance, delivering capacities of 138 mA h g⁻¹, 127 mA h g⁻¹ and 163 mA h g⁻¹ after 100 cycles at room temperature with LiFePO₄, LiCoO₂, and LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂ cathode materials, respectively. The good battery performance can be ascribed to the effective three-dimensional ion-conducting networks established by the nanowetted interfaces. The aforementioned results exhibit the good prospects of the Li-IL@MCM-41 SSE for application in lithium metal batteries.