Novel types of lithium-ion polymer electrolyte batteries

Three new types of polymer electrolyte lithium-ion batteries are presented and discussed. These batteries have been prepared by using gel-type, poly(acrylonitrile), PAN-based membranes as the electrolyte separators of various electrode ombinations. The latter include ‘standard’ materials such as a graphite LixC6 anode and a manganese spinel LiMn2O4 cathode, as well as more innovative electrodes such as KC8 and SnO2 anodes, and LiCryMn2−yO4 and LiNiyCo1−yO2 cathodes. The results, although preliminary, are convincing in demonstrating the feasibility of these new concepts and ultimately, that PAN-based, gel-type membranes are suitable for the development of plastic-like, lithium-ion batteries of practical interest.