Fast ion conductor

Physics

Electrode

Organic chemistry

Plastic crystal

Lithium metal

Elastomer

Energy storage

Anode

Endocrinology

Ionic conductivity

Engineering

Physical chemistry

Composite material

Power (physics)

Chemistry

Materials science

Lithium (medication)

Phase (matter)

Quantum mechanics

Electrolyte

Chemical engineering

Electrochemistry

Medicine

Nature

The use of lithium metal anodes in solid-state batteries has emerged as one of the most promising technologies for replacing conventional lithium-ion batteries1,2. Solid-state electrolytes are a key enabling technology for the safe operation of lithium metal batteries as they suppress the uncontrolled growth of lithium dendrites. However, the mechanical properties and electrochemical performance of current solid-state electrolytes do not meet the requirements for practical applications of lithium metal batteries. Here we report a class of elastomeric solid-state electrolytes with a three-dimensional interconnected plastic crystal phase. The elastomeric electrolytes show a combination of mechanical robustness, high ionic conductivity, low interfacial resistance and high lithium-ion transference number. The in situ-formed elastomer electrolyte on copper foils accommodates volume changes for prolonged lithium plating and stripping processes with a Coulombic efficiency of 100.0&nbsp;per&nbsp;cent. Moreover, the elastomer electrolytes enable stable operation of the full cells under constrained conditions of a limited lithium source, a thin electrolyte and a high-loading LiNi0.83Mn0.06Co0.11O2 cathode at a high voltage of 4.5&nbsp;volts at ambient temperature, delivering a high specific energy exceeding 410&nbsp;watt-hours per kilogram of electrode&nbsp;plus&nbsp;electrolyte. The elastomeric electrolyte system presents a powerful strategy for enabling stable operation of high-energy, solid-state lithium batteries. An elastomeric solid-state electrolyte shows desirable mechanical properties and high electrochemical stability, and is used to demonstrate a high-energy solid-state lithium battery at ambient temperature.

Elastomeric electrolytes for high-energy solid-state lithium batteries