Enhanced Electrochemical Performance of PEO-Based Composite Polymer Electrolyte with Single-Ion Conducting Polymer Grafted SiO(2) Nanoparticles

In order to enhance the electrochemical performance and mechanical properties of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based solid polymer electrolytes, composite solid electrolytes (CSE) composed of single-ion conducting polymer-modified SiO(2), PEO and lithium salt were prepared and used in lithium-ion batteries in this work. The pyridyl disulfide terminated polymer (py-ss-PLiSSPSI) is synthesized through RAFT polymerization, then grafted onto SiO(2) via thiol-disulfide exchange reaction between SiO(2)-SH and py-ss-PLiSSPSI. The chemical structure, surface morphology and elemental distribution of the as-prepared polymer and the PLiSSPSI-g-SiO(2) nanoparticles have been investigated. Moreover, CSEs containing 2, 6, and 10 wt% PLiSSPSI-g-SiO(2) nanoparticles (PLi-g-SiCSEs) are fabricated and characterized. The compatibility of the PLiSSPSI-g-SiO(2) nanoparticles and the PEO can be effectively improved owing to the excellent dispersibility of the functionalized nanoparticles in the polymer matrix, which promotes the comprehensive performances of PLi-g-SiCSEs. The PLi-g-SiCSE-6 exhibits the highest ionic conductivity (0.22 mS·cm(−1)) at 60 °C, a large t(Li+) of 0.77, a wider electrochemical window of 5.6 V and a rather good lithium plating/stripping performance at 60 °C, as well as superior mechanical properties. Hence, the CSEs containing single-ion conducting polymer modified nanoparticles are promising candidates for all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries.