Commercialized lithium-ion rechargeable batteries (LIBs) have several advantages, such as a high operating voltage, a high energy density and relatively good cycle durability. However, the use of a flammable and easily leaking liquid electrolyte is unavoidable in the present lithium ion cells. In this study, we have attempted an entirely new concept for the fabrication of a leak/vapor-free, non-flammable and solid electrolyte with a high ion-conductive channel as a continuous network. This was for the first time achieved by three-dimensionally/regularly self-assembling, in a crystal, the hybrid silica particles (PSiPs) with �concentrated� polymer brushes (CPBs) of ionic-liquid polymers in the presence of a small amount of ionic liquid (IL) as a plasticizer; the regular array of CPB-modified particles was expected to provide a polymer-brush domain three-dimensionally and continuously connected as a network channel, in which the chain ends of graft polymers would be concentrated near the boundary region, expectedly enhancing the ion conduction by coupling with the segmental motion.We will present the preparation and the physicochemical properties of this novel solid polymer electrolyte and its first successful application to a bipolar lithium-ion rechargeable battery operated at room temperature with a high operation voltage and a capacity at a level of mAh. It would open a new route to develop safe electrochemical devices for next generation.

Novel solid polymer electrolyte for nonflammable lithium ion battery

246th National Meeting (2013)

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