Boehmite-PVDF-CTFE/F-PI composite separator irradiated by electron beam for high-rate lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

As an important part of the fields such as renewable energy and electric vehicles, electrochemical energy storage technology faces significant challenges in improving energy density, extending battery life and improving safety. We successfully prepared a composite battery separator of polyvinylidene fluoride-chlorotrifluorinylene (PVDF-CTFE) and fluorinated polyimide (F-PI) -based materials, mixed it with different contents of boehmite nanoparticles, and then modified it by different doses of electron beam irradiation to improve the performance, especially to overcome the problem of maintaining capacity decline in high-speed charging environment. The results showed that the prepared battery separators exhibited outstanding thermal stability, electrochemical properties and ionic conductivity with 12 % boehmite nanoparticles. After 1000 high-speed charge and discharge cycles in current density of 10C, the battery based on the modified separator still maintained a capacity retention rate of 84.4 %, with the initial discharge specific capacity of 111.9 mAhg−1. This means that irradiated separators not only maintain a high energy density in a high-speed charging environment, but also overcome the problem of maintaining capacity decline. Electron beam irradiation further improved the comprehensive performance of the separator. After 1000 and 1500 cycles at the current density of 10C and 15C, the specific discharge capacity of the battery can still retain more than 90 % and 80 % of the initial specific discharge capacity, which provides a longer life in practical applications.