There is strong impetus to improve the capacity, energy and power densities, and safety of recharagable batteries. This has focused attention on challenging batteries such as lithium-air and lithium sulfur that employ lithium metal anodes. In the case of lithium-air, there are formidable challenges associated with the cathode, anode and especially the electrolyte. It is a particularly difficult task to find liquid electrolytes that are stable to both the high charging voltages and the strongly reducing lithium metal anode. These issues could be mitigated in a membrane divided cell allowing the use of different solvents in each compartment where the membrane itself was resistant to lithium dendrite penetration upon charging. We have developed a composite (inorganic/polymer) membrane where the ion conduction occurs via ceramic lithium ion conducting particles and the membrane itself is one particle thick. These membranes are mechanical robust at thicknesses &lt; 100 microns and resist dendrite penetration upon lithium redeposition. Preparation and performance of such composite membranes will be discussed.

Flexible, composite polymer/inorganic membranes for battery applications

251st National Meeting (2016)

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