Gel electrolyte and anode material derived from electro-spun polyacrylonitrile/polysilsesquioxane composite and application in advanced lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

The aim of this work is to improve the comprehensive performance of Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) by designing and fabricating novel polymer electrolyte. A flexible film composed of electro-spun polyacrylonitrile/1,2-ethylidene-bridged polysilsesquioxane composite nanofibers (PAN@ee-PSiO) was synthesized via a sol–gel method, and then used as scaffold to absorb organic electrolyte to make gel electrolyte membrane (PAN@ee-PSiO-GE). It presents high electrolyte uptake (472 wt%), thermal stability (up to ∼300 °C), high ionic conductivity (∼7.2 mS cm−1 at room temperature) and excellent interfacial contact with Li metal electrodes. Meanwhile, Si/SiC/C composite nanofibers (SSCNFs) were also produced from PAN/ee-PSiO film by magnesiothermic reduction and could act as anode material. The assembled SSCNFs|PAN@ee-PSiO-GE|Li half-cell exhibits excellent rate capability and good cycling stability, indicating a new way for designing and fabricating safer high-performance LIBs.