A single-ion gel polymer electrolyte system for improving cycle performance of LiMn2O4 battery at elevated temperatures

The LiMn2O4 based lithium batteries using commercially available electrolytes suffer from poor cycling performance at elevated temperatures (above 55 °C). This is mainly caused by the Mn dissolution generated from HF thermally decomposed from the LiPF6 salt at elevated temperatures. In this paper, a single-ion gel polymer electrolyte (polymeric lithium tartaric acid borate @ poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) was explored for improving the cycling performance of the LiMn2O4 based lithium battery at elevated temperatures owing to superior thermal stability and comparable ionic conductivity. It was manifested that the Li/LiMn2O4 cells using this single-ion gel polymer electrolyte showed stable charge/discharge voltage profiles, preferable rate capability and excellent cycling performance both at room temperature and elevated temperature of 55 °C. The dissolution of metallic Mn in this electrolyte is significantly suppressed than that of LiPF6 electrolyte. These superior performances could endow this single-ion gel polymer electrolyte a promising alternative to the conventional liquid electrolyte system in the LiMn2O4 battery at elevated temperatures.

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