One‐Step In Situ Polymerization: A Facile Design Strategy for Block Copolymer Electrolytes
Kairui Guo, Jirong Wang, Zhen Shi, Yong Wang, Xiaolin Xie, Zhigang Xue
Abstract
Abstract To optimize the rapid transport of lithium ions (Li + ) inside lithium metal batteries (LMBs), block copolymer electrolytes (BCPEs) have been fabricated in situ in LMBs via a one‐step method combining reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and carboxylic acid‐catalyzed ring‐opening polymerization (ROP). The BCPEs balanced the Li + coordination characteristics of the polyether‐ and polyester‐based electrolytes to achieve a rapid Li + migration in the SPEs. The carboxylic acid played a dual role since it both catalyzed the ROP and stabilized the interface. Furthermore, the in situ assembly of LMBs did effectively enable an efficient intercalation/de‐intercalation of Li + at the electrode/electrolyte interface. The in situ assembled Li/BCPE4/LFP exhibited high‐capacity retention of 92 % after 400 cycles at 1 C. The one‐step in situ fabrication of BCPEs provides a new direction for the design of polymer electrolytes.