Fabrication of a new gel polymer electrolyte containing core–shell silica–polyelectrolyte nanoparticles via activators regenerated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET-ATRP) for high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries

Abstract

Presented herein is the fabrication of a new gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) containing core–shell nanoparticles for lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. This work is to overcome drawbacks of poly (vinylidenefluoride) (PVDF)-based GPEs while simultaneously maintaining their beneficial electrochemical properties such as high ionic conductivity at ambient temperature and excellent chemical stability. Core–shell silica nanoparticles with silica as core and poly (vinylbenzenesulfonate) as shell was synthesized via activators regenerated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization and incorporated into PVDF. The obtained composite displays ionic conductivity as high as 1.1 mS cm−1 at room temperature. Electrochemical experiments show that the new GPE acts as an effective electrolyte for high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries.