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Electrospun nanofiber separator derived from nano-SiO2-modified polyimide with superior mechanical flexibility for high-performance lithium-ion battery

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Abstract

Nowadays, commercial polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene separators in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) still remain significant challenges of irreversible deformation, thermal shrinkage or even melting phenomena under external forces and high operating temperature, resulting in short circuit and thermal runaway of the LIBs. Herein, a kind of biphenyl polyimide (PI) nanofiber separator coated with SiO2 nanoparticles (SiO2–PI) is prepared via a simple and effective in situ dispersion method coupled with electrospinning technology and used as the separator of LIBs. The combination effect of the three-dimensional network and the extremely high porosity of 92% originating from the electrospinning technology as well as the well-dispersed SiO2 nanoparticles provides an ultrahigh mechanical flexibility, thermal stability, electrolyte wettability and ionic conductivity of the obtained SiO2–PI separator compared to the classical PP separator. These superior properties of the SiO2–PI separator endow the obtained LIBs with much enhanced electrochemical performances. For example, the initial specific discharge capacity of the SiO2–PI-based LIB is up to 158.4 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C and 125.7 mAh g−1 at 1 C, which can be retained at 90% after 100 cycles. These values, are much better than those of the PP-based LIB, i.e., 156.1 mAh g−1, 100.8 mAh g−1 and 76%, respectively.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NNSFC, 21875046) and the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (2019A1515011525).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China

    Jian-hui Deng, Dong-qing Cao, Guo-qing Zhang & Xiao-qing Yang

  2. School of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China

    Liang-jun Li

  3. Guangzhou Nanyang Polytechnic College, Guangzhou, 510925, China

    You-peng Chen

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  1. Jian-hui Deng
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Correspondence to Guo-qing Zhang or Xiao-qing Yang.

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Deng, Jh., Cao, Dq., Li, Lj. et al. Electrospun nanofiber separator derived from nano-SiO2-modified polyimide with superior mechanical flexibility for high-performance lithium-ion battery. J Mater Sci 56, 15215–15228 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-021-06201-9

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