Gel polymer electrolyte based on hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose matrix composited with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane

Abstract

• POSS could hinder large anions transport and improve Li + ions conduction. • High Li + ion transference number. • Electrochemical stability window (4.74 V, vs. Li + /Li). High Li + ion transference number gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) comprised of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) matrix with adding hybrid nanoparticle polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) are presented. POSS is a cage-type inorganic–organic nanoparticle which could hinder large anions transport and improve Li + ions conduction. An optimized GPE membrane is prepared by adding 10% POSS into HPMC. It achieves the best electrochemical performance, including high Li + ion transference number (0.81), remarkable ionic conductivity (9.05 × 10 −3 S cm −1 , 25 ℃) and electrochemical stability window (4.78 V, vs. Li + /Li). In addition, this system has the special ability to regulate lithium deposition/dissolution and exhibits overpotential stability for more than 460 h.