A lithium battery electrolyte based on gelled polyethylene oxide

Gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) were prepared by dipping a polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based solid polymer electrolyte in lithium triflate/propylene carbonate (PC) liquid electrolyte solutions. The quantity of the liquid electrolyte gelled in the polymer was monitored as a function of dipping time in several liquid electrolytic solutions characterized by a different salt concentration. The GPE conductivity was measured as a function of the salt concentration and the liquid fraction content. The Li/GPE interface properties were evaluated by monitoring the charge transfer resistance at open circuit voltage and the lithium cycling efficiency under dynamic conditions. Chronopotentiometry measurements were used to study the variations of the lithium ion concentration in the electrolyte near the electrode surface. The transition time and the lithium diffusion coefficient were calculated as a function of the salt concentration of the liquid electrolyte used to swell the polymer electrolyte. The GPE electrochemical stability was measured by slow scan voltammetry sweep. Battery cells were assembled by sandwiching a GPE between a lithium disk and a gelled PEO-based composite cathode. The battery performance was evaluated at various discharge rates, while the rechargeability was tested under galvanostatic conditions at the C/10 rate.