Solid-State Composite Electrolytes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

High-energy density Li-ion batteries are critical to electric vehicles and cell phones. Current commercial liquid-electrolyte batteries raise serious concern on safety and low energy density. Therefore, solid-state electrolyte batteries receive increasing attention due to better safety and higher energy density as compared to liquid-electrolyte counterparts. However, commercialization of solid-state electrolyte batteries is hindered by low ionic conductivity and incompatible interface among different types of materials. Thus, rational material design and interface engineering have been performed to mitigate the problems. In addition, fundamental studies have been conducted to understand the Li -ion transport mechanism and synergetic interfacial chemical interactions in inorganic-organic composite electrolytes. The performance of solid-state electrolytes such as ionic conductivity, electrochemical window, and Li-ion transference numbers have been improved by combination of fundamental studies and rational design of materials.