Electrolyte Loading Research Articles

Enabling room temperature solid-state lithium batteries by blends of copolymers and ionic liquid electrolytes

High lithium-concentration phosphonium ionic liquids electrolytes have shown outstanding properties even overcoming ammonium derivatives in terms of viscosity and transport properties. Consequently, they have been also combined with fluorinated polymers, such as poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) or poly(ionic liquids), for solid-state batteries with satisfying performance at 50 °C. The aim of this work is to develop highly lithium conducting solid-state electrolyte (≥0.1 mS cm−1) at room temperature but maintaining solid-state properties. For this, polymer electrolytes based on ISOBAM alternating copolymer (isobutylene and maleic anhydride) and ionic liquid (P111i4FSI) were developed. The composition-dependent behavior of the solid electrolytes was studied in terms of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), reaching σLi+ of 0.52 mS cm−1; differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) under different ionic liquid electrolyte loadings and salt concentration. The polymer electrolytes presented a solid-like behavior in the range of 25 to 90 °C with a storage modulus of 2.3·104 Pa. Finally, the best free-standing membrane electrolytes were tested and compared electrochemically in lithium symmetrical cells and lithium iron phosphate full cells exhibiting an excellent cycling at room temperature.

The Correlation of Fluid Creep with Fluid and Electrolyte Imbalance In Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo National Central Public Hospital.

Fluid creep, used as a drug diluent can contribute to fluid and electrolyte balance. Fluid creep brings substantial volume and electrolyte load to patients, especially in critically ill children. This study is conducted to evaluate the correlation of fluid creep with fluid and electrolyte balance in critically ill children. This cross-sectional study was conducted in a single tertiary center. We include children aged 1 month- 18 years in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Exclusion criteria were patients receiving renal replacement therapy and plasmapheresis. Fluids and electrolyte intake were recorded at admission and the first 24 hours in the PICU. A total of 64 patients were observed. The sources of fluid intake are 61% from parenteral, 25% from enteral nutrition, and 12% from fluid creep. There were significant correlations between the volume (r = 0.304, P = .015) and electrolyte intake (r = 0.742, P = .035) of fluid creep with daily fluid balance. There is no correlation between fluid creep and electrolyte changes in 24 hours. Fifty-two patients used WFI (81.2%) as a drug diluent. Our study showed that fluid creep constitutes 12% of daily fluid intake. There is a correlation between the volume and electrolyte intake from fluid creep to daily fluid balance, so it is important to include the volume of fluid creep in calculating the fluid balance. Thus, it is recommended to use hypotonic fluid like WFI compared to NaCl 0.9% for drug diluent.

Platinum loading and electrolyte volume fraction simultaneous gradient distributions in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell: Improving electrical performance and mass transfer

Platinum loading and electrolyte content affect the surface area of electrochemical reaction and proton conductivity, respectively, and protons and oxygen are not uniformly distributed in the catalyst layer. Therefore, platinum loading and electrolyte content can be set to be simultaneous non-uniform distributions to further enhance the species utilization and cell performance. In this study, a non-isothermal, two-dimensional, two-phase fuel cell model is set up and coupled with the catalyst layer agglomerate model. The electrolyte content and platinum loading uneven distributions influence on products and reactants transmission and electrical property is explored. Results indicate that electrolyte volume fraction and platinum loading coinstantaneous graded distribution is more helpful in the species transfer and electrical property improvement. The maximum power density of coinstantaneous graded distribution of platinum content and electrolyte loading along the channel direction is increased by 3.40% compared with the uniform distribution, and is 2.94% higher than the superposition of the maximum power density when the graded distributions of electrolyte volume fraction and platinum loading are separately set. Moreover, the platinum content and electrolyte content gradient distributions do not make liquid water saturation present an evident segment variation along the channel direction, while the opposite is true for oxygen concentration.

P-Phenylenediamine-Bridged Binder-Electrolyte-Unified Supramolecules for Versatile Lithium Secondary Batteries.

The binder is an essential component in determining the structural integrity and ionic conductivity of Li-ion battery electrodes. However, conventional binders are not sufficiently conductive and durable to be used with solid-state electrolytes. In this study, a novel system is proposed for a Li secondary battery that combines the electrolyte and binder into a unified structure, which is achieved by employing para-phenylenediamine (pPD) moiety to create supramolecular bridges between the parent binders. Due to a partial crosslinking effect and charge-transferring structure of pPD, the proposed strategy improves both the ionic conductivity and mechanical properties by a factor of 6.4 (achieving a conductivity of 3.73 × 10-4 S cm-1 for poly(ethylene oxide)-pPD) and 4.4 (reaching a mechanical strength of 151.4kPa for poly(acrylic acid)-pPD) compared to those of conventional parent binders. As a result, when the supramolecules of pPD are used as a binder in a pouch cell with a lean electrolyte loading of 2µL mAh-1 , a capacity retention of 80.2% is achieved even after 300 cycles. Furthermore, when it is utilized as a solid-state electrolyte, an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.7% and capacity retention of 98.7% are attained under operations at 50°C without external pressure or a pre-aging process.

Effect of Electrolyte Chemistry and Sulfur Content in Li||Sulfurized Polyacrylonitrile (SPAN) Batteries.

Sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (SPAN) is considered as a high-value cathode material, which leverages the high energy of S redox while mitigating the negative externalities that limit elemental S cycling. As such, the sulfur content in Li-SPAN batteries plays a critical role. In this work, we demonstrate that high-S loading SPAN cathodes, where the PAN backbone approaches the saturation point without signs of elemental S, are highly dependent on the electrolyte chemistry for long-term reversibility. Specifically, we find that a localized-high-concentration electrolyte (LHCE) further enhances the reversible capacity and cycling stability of SPAN cathode with optimized S content relative to a carbonate control, largely due to the formation of a compatible interphase. With this LHCE as the electrolyte and 43% sulfur ratio of SPAN as the cathode, a full cell applying N/P ratio = 1.82, a cathode loading of 6 mAh cm-2 (9.2 mg cm-2), and an electrolyte loading of 7 μL mg-1 SPAN can be cycled for 100 cycles with 433 mAh g-1 retained capacity and retains much of this reversibility even at 60 °C. This work reveals the molecular origin of optimized sulfur ratio in SPAN cathodes while providing guidance in electrolyte design for Li||SPAN cells with high capacity and cyclability.

A Comparative Study of Serum Sodium and Potassium Levels across the Three Trimesters of Pregnancy

Aim: To evaluate the serum sodium and potassium levels in the three trimesters of pregnancy in women. Methods: Four groups of healthy women between the ages of 20 and 30 years, volunteered for this study. Group 1: Non-pregnant women (control), Group 2: Pregnant women in their first trimester, Group 3: Pregnant women in their second trimester, Group 4: Pregnant women in their third trimester. Blood samples were collected by standard aseptic method and serum samples were analyzed for serum levels of sodium and potassium by the ion selective electrode method. Results were presented as MEAN ± SEM in tables and figures, p < 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. Results: The serum sodium concentrations in mmol/L were 135.3 ± 3.09, 136.3 ± 1.55, 139.0 ± 0.78, 139.8 ± 0.91 for control, first-trimester, second-trimester, and third-trimester subjects respectively. The potassium concentrations in mmol/L were 3.678 ± 0.26, 3.687 ± 0.13, 3.820 ± 0.11, 3.767 ± 0.07 for control, first-trimester, second trimester and third-trimester subjects respectively. The Bodyweight values in kg were 72.13 ± 2.11, 74.73 ± 2.05, 75.00 ± 1.72, 81.56 ± 4.24 for control, first-trimest, second-trimester, and third-trimester subjects respectively. Conclusion: Results indicate that the hormones of pregnancy altered the body weight of pregnant women, but did not change the serum sodium and potassium level across the three trimesters of pregnancy in women. This is an indication that the kidneys of healthy pregnant women can handle serum electrolyte load during the period of pregnancy.

Improved electrochemical properties of janus composite membranes obtained by modification of PEEK/nanocellulose on polyethylene for lithium-ion batteries

To solve the disadvantages of polyethylene (PE) separator for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), such as low polarity, poor electrolyte wettability, and severe thermal dimensional shrinkage, the composite solution of poly(ether ketone) (PEEK) and carbon nanoparticles, which was obtained by the carbonization of nanocellulose (NCC) in the sulfuric acid solution, were applied to modify the PE separator to prepare Janus composite separator (PE/PC) with high porosity. PE/PC exhibited high dimensional thermal stability with a shrinkage rate of 53% after 0.5 h of treatment at 150 °C, and a higher electrolyte loading rate (196.3%) than PE. Accordingly, it also presented excellent battery performance. The discharge capacity of the cell using PE separator was 148 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles, while that with PE/PC separator were 155 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles. The initial efficiency of discharge-charge of PE/PC with 2% NCC (PE/PC2) was as high as 97.6%. This should be related to the high ion conductivity (1.21 × 10−3 S cm−1). Furthermore, the carbon nanoparticles effectively provided abundant secondary oxidation reaction sites for the active material between the separator and cathode, allowing the free diffusion of Li+, thus also reducing the charge transfer resistance and improving the battery performance.

Influence of administration time and sex on natriuretic, diuretic, and kaliuretic effects of diuretics.

Sex differences in renal function and blood pressure have been widely described across many species. Blood pressure dips during sleep and peaks in the early morning. Similarly, glomerular filtration rate, filtered electrolyte loads, urine volume, and urinary excretion all exhibit notable diurnal rhythms, which reflect, in part, the regulation of renal transporter proteins by circadian clock genes. That regulation is sexually dimorphic; as such, sex and time of day are not two independent regulators of kidney function and blood pressure. The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of sex and administration time on the natriuretic and diuretic effects of loop, thiazide, and K+-sparing diuretics, which are common treatments for hypertension. Loop diuretics inhibit Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporters on the apical membrane of the thick ascending limb, thiazide diuretics inhibit Na+-Cl- cotransporters on the distal convoluted tubule, and K+-sparing diuretics inhibit epithelial Na+ channels on the connecting tubule and collecting duct. We simulated Na+ transporter inhibition using sex- and time-of-day-specific computational models of mouse kidney function. The simulation results highlighted significant sex and time-of-day differences in the drug response. Loop diuretics induced larger natriuretic and diuretic effects during the active phase. The natriuretic and diuretic effects of thiazide diuretics exhibited sex and time-of-day differences, whereas these effects of K+-sparing diuretics exhibited a significant time-of-day difference in females only. The kaliuretic effect depended on the type of diuretics and time of administration. The present computational models can be a useful tool in chronotherapy, to tailor drug administration time to match the body's diurnal rhythms to optimize the drug effect.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Sex influences cardiovascular disease, and the timing of onset of acute cardiovascular events exhibits circadian rhythms. Kidney function also exhibits sex differences and circadian rhythms. How do the natriuretic and diuretic effects of diuretics, a common treatment for hypertension that targets the kidneys, differ between the sexes? And how do these effects vary during the day? To answer these questions, we conducted computer simulations to assess the effects of loop, thiazide, and K+-sparing diuretics.

Highly flexible polypyrrole electrode with acanthosphere-like structures for energy storage and actuator applications

Polypyrrole (PPy) is a promising electrode material for energy storage devices and soft ionic actuators owing to its high theoretical capacitance, excellent electrolyte tolerance, and easy low-cost synthesis. However, large-scale production of flexible and self-standing pristine PPy electrodes with hierarchical structures and high capacitance for practical applications remains challenging. Herein, we report a large-scale flexible PPy membrane (15 cm in diameter) with acanthosphere-like vesicle structures (PPy-V) formed via nonionic surfactant–assisted interfacial polymerization. The unique structure could offer the PPy-V electrode more electrochemical active sites for high electrolyte loading and enable fast ion/electron transfer, resulting in improved electrochemical performance. The PPy-V electrode showed a high specific capacitance of 1434.21 mF cm−2 at a current density of 1 mA cm−2, with a capacitance retention rate of 87.2 % after 5000 cycles. The symmetrical supercapacitor assembled using the PPy-V electrode exhibited an energy density of 35.34 μW h cm−2 at a power density of 0.12 μW cm−2, and the curved actuator showed a reversible deformation with a low power consumption per unit strain of 7.45 mW cm−2 %−1. These superior properties of the PPy-V electrode with the bioinspired hierarchical structure make it a promising candidate for flexible supercapacitors and soft ionic actuators.

Application-Based Prospects for Dual-Ion Batteries.

Dual-ion batteries (DIBs) exhibit a distinct set of performance advantages and disadvantages due to their unique storage mechanism. However, the current cyclability/energy density tradeoffs of anion storage paired with the intrinsic required electrolyte loadings of conventional DIBs preclude their widespread adoption as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Despite this, their reduced desolvation penalty and low-cost electrode materials may warrant their employment for low-temperature and/or grid storage applications. To expand beyond these applications, this Perspective reviews the prospects of solid salt storage and halogen intercalation-conversion as viable methods to increase DIB energy densities to a level on-par with LIBs. Fundamental limitations of conventional DIBs are examined, technology spaces are proposed where they can make meaningful impact over LIBs, and potential strategies are outlined to improve cell-level energy densities necessary for the widespread adoption of DIBs.

Electrocatalytic Allylic C-H Alkylation Enabled by a Dual-Function Cobalt Catalyst.

The direct functionalization of allylic C-H bonds with nucleophiles minimizes pre-functionalization and converts inexpensive, abundantly available materials to value-added alkenyl-substituted products but remains challenging. Here we report an electrocatalytic allylic C-H alkylation reaction with carbon nucleophiles employing an easily available cobalt-salen complex as the molecular catalyst. These C(sp3 )-H/C(sp3 )-H cross-coupling reactions proceed through H2 evolution and require no external chemical oxidants. Importantly, the mild conditions and unique electrocatalytic radical process ensure excellent functional group tolerance and substrate compatibility with both linear and branched terminal alkenes. The synthetic utility of the electrochemical method is highlighted by its scalability (up to 200 mmol scale) under low loading of electrolyte (down to 0.05 equiv) and its successful application in the late-stage functionalization of complex structures.

Electrocatalytic Allylic C−H Alkylation Enabled by a Dual‐Function Cobalt Catalyst**

AbstractThe direct functionalization of allylic C−H bonds with nucleophiles minimizes pre‐functionalization and converts inexpensive, abundantly available materials to value‐added alkenyl‐substituted products but remains challenging. Here we report an electrocatalytic allylic C−H alkylation reaction with carbon nucleophiles employing an easily available cobalt–salen complex as the molecular catalyst. These C(sp3)−H/C(sp3)−H cross‐coupling reactions proceed through H2 evolution and require no external chemical oxidants. Importantly, the mild conditions and unique electrocatalytic radical process ensure excellent functional group tolerance and substrate compatibility with both linear and branched terminal alkenes. The synthetic utility of the electrochemical method is highlighted by its scalability (up to 200 mmol scale) under low loading of electrolyte (down to 0.05 equiv) and its successful application in the late‐stage functionalization of complex structures.

Asymmetric donor-acceptor molecule-regulated core-shell-solvation electrolyte for high-voltage aqueous batteries

<h2>Summary</h2> Salt-concentrated aqueous electrolytes show a wider electrochemical window than conventional aqueous electrolytes, yet still suffer from significant hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at <1.9 V versus Li⁺/Li. Introducing organic compounds was reported to alleviate HER, but all reported organic additives are flammable, inevitably compromising the safety property. Here, we report a new all-nonflammable-ingredient aqueous electrolyte via hybridizing with nonflammable methylurea. The structurally asymmetric methylurea molecules possessing both donor and acceptor functional groups regulate the hydrogen bonding network, resulting in peculiar nanoscale core-shell-like clusters. Such unique solution structure allows localized super-high salt concentration in the electrolyte and suppresses HER at 0.5 V versus Li⁺/Li, achieving a 4.5 V electrochemical window. Under a harsh testing condition with low electrolyte loading, no excess Li resource, no electrode precoating, and conventional aluminum current collectors, this electrolyte realizes a stable cycling of a rocking-chair NbO₂|LiMn₂O₄ full cell (∼175 Wh kg^–1) without compromising the safety property.

Evaluation of Fundamental Characteristics of High Functional Direct Carbon Fuel Cell Using Wood Pellet as Fuel

After the Great East Japan Earthquake, because the power supply of Japan shifted from nuclear power generation to thermal power generation, the exhaust amount of CO2 as the greenhouse gas increased drastically. On the other hand, Japan has a lot of organic wastes such as a food waste and unused biomass. To solve these problems, we have been developing High Functional Direct Carbon Fuel Cell (HF-DCFC) composed of molten salts gasification system and tubular molten carbonate fuel cell (T-MCFC) since 2012. Molten salts gasification is a technology to produce H2 and CO for T-MCFC from organic wastes. Our previous study obtained the fundamental characteristics of HF-DCFC using soy sauce cake as fuel. Generally, because the operating condition of HD-DCFC depends on a fuel type, we examine the fuel diversity of HF-DCFC. Therefore, this paper aimed to evaluate the fundamental characteristics of HF-DCFC using wood pellet made of unused timber. Moreover, because the performance of T-MCFC depends on the electrolyte loading ratio of both electrodes, this paper also examined the optimum electrolyte loading ratio. In the results of the optimum electrolyte loading ratio, although the performances of the cell to which electrolyte of 45% or more was impregnated were very low under 650℃ of the cell temperature, it has been improved when the cell temperature was raised to 750℃ which was the operating temperature of HF-DCFC. Especially, the diffusion overpotential of each cell was improved greatly by the cell temperature rise. Generally, about three days are required so that the electrolyte is normally distributed to each cell component of a plate type MCFC. Although the distribution of T-MCFC was worse than that of a plate type MCFC because of the difference of the pore structure, it was improved by the decrease in the viscosity of electrolyte by the cell temperature rise. Consequently, we confirmed that the optimum electrolyte loading ratio was in about 25%. On the HF-DCFC experiment, the fundamental characteristic of HF-DCFC was evaluated by the cell voltage change when the wood pellet of 3g was supplied to HF-DCFC generating electricity by a constant current density of 100mA/cm2. The fuel gas utilization was changed from 40% to 80% to evaluate the influence of the gasification gas from the wood pellet on the cell performance. Although the cell power decreases rapidly immediately after the supplying of the wood pellet, thereafter it increases significantly. This tendency becomes large with the increase of the fuel gas utilization. The power descent immediately after the supplying of wood pellet originates to the influence of the air that mixed at the pellet supplying. The cell power descent immediately after the supplying of the pellet originates to the decrease of the partial pressure of hydrogen because of the combustion of air that mixes at the pellet supplying and the T-MCFC fuel gas. Thereafter, the cell power increases rapidly by the increase of fuel gas produced by gasification of the wood pellet. The ratio of the gasification gas in the anode gas increases so that the supply flow rate decreases as the fuel gas utilization increases. Therefore, this tendency increases with the increase of the fuel gas utilization. Consequently, we were able to confirm that HF-DCFC is effective enough as the distributed power source and the waste disposal equipment if wood pellet was supplied to HF-DCFC continuously. Figure 1

Tolerance and osmotic response to food deprivation and salt loading in the herbivorous non-drinking Moroccan Spiny-tailed lizard Uromastyx nigriventris (Sauria: Agamidae)

Abstract Animals inhabiting arid environments use a variety of behavioural and physiological strategies to balance their water and salt budgets. We studied the effects of dehydration and salt loading on osmoregulatory capacities in a large herbivorous desert lizard, the Moroccan Spiny-tailed lizard Uromastyx nigriventris, the family Agamidae. These lizards select plants with a high K+ to Na+ ratio of 15 to 20, and like other herbivorous lizards, effectively eliminate the extra electrolyte load, mainly via a pair of active nasal salt glands, which exude the extra ions from blood. Here we present results of a series of laboratory experiments, which tested a five-week food and water deprivation and the excretory response of nasal salt glands, during a short period of five days, following salt loading by two separated injections of KCl or NaCl at a 5-day interval (4th and 9th days). During food-water deprivation, hypohydrated lizards lost 32% of their initial body mass with a substantial decrease of their Body Condition Index and the tail volume as an index of energy (fat and then potential metabolic water) storage. Plasma osmolality significantly increased by 20%. There were also significantly increased plasma sodium, chloride, and total protein concentrations. On the other hand, there was no significant decrease in the plasma glucose level. Most of the salt loaded lizards secreted far more K+ than Na+ via the nasal glands, even after NaCl loading. The K+/Na+ ratio decreased only after two to three repetitive NaCl injections but insufficient Na+ was eliminated. Two successive KCl injections were successfully eliminated, but daily natural average K+ administration induced progressive hyperkaliemia. These experimental data agreed with previous observations showing variations of plasma Na+ and K+ concentrations in free-living lizards. The nasal gland constitutes the main route of Cl− excretion but the Cl−/(Na+ + K+) ratio may vary according to observations in other herbivorous species.

Evaluation of Fundamental Characteristics of High Functional Direct Carbon Fuel Cell Using Wood Pellet as Fuel

We have been developing High Functional Direct Carbon Fuel Cell (HF-DCFC) composed of molten salts gasification system and tubular molten carbonate fuel cell (T-MCFC) since 2012. Molten salts gasification is a technology to produce H2 and CO for T-MCFC from organic wastes. This paper aims to evaluate the fundamental characteristics of HF-DCFC using wood pellet made of unused thinning wood and the optimum electrolyte loading ratio. As a result, we were able to confirm that the cell performance of T-MCFC depended on electrolyte loading ratio, and the time for the re-distribution of the electrolyte in the cell component is longer than that of plate type MCFC. We were able to confirm that HF-DCFC is effective enough as the distributed power source and the waste disposal equipment if wood pellet was supplied to HF-DCFC continuously, because the electric power of HF-DCFC was enhanced even if fuel gas utilization increased.

Hydrogel Electrolytes for Quasi-Solid Zinc-Based Batteries.

On account of high energy density depending on the utilized zinc metal anode of high theoretical capacity and its excellent security due to aqueous electrolytes that usually be locked in polymer hosts referred to as hydrogels, quasi-solid zinc-based batteries have been subjected to more and more interest from researchers. The good water retention and electrolyte load capacity of the hydrogel, contributing to the acquirement of high ionic conductivity and durability of the as-obtained quasi-solid electrolyte, play a significant role on the performance of the devices. Moreover, the chemistry of hydrogels can be tuned to endow quasi-solid electrolytes with additional functions in terms of application scenarios of solid-state batteries. Herein, the frontier disciplines of hydrogel electrolytes for Zn-based batteries were reviewed. The cross-linking process of the polymer networks for hydrogel materials with different functions, such as stretchability, compressibility, and self-healing, were also discussed to analyze the properties of the polymer electrolyte. Based on the merits of the functionalized hydrogel, the further application of hydrogel electrolytes in Zn-based batteries is the focus of this paper. The electrochemical performance and mechanical property of Zn-based batteries with functionalized hydrogel electrolytes under extreme conditions were presented to evaluate the crucial role of the polymer hydrogel electrolyte. Finally, the challenges of hydrogel electrolytes for currently developed Zn-based batteries are highlighted with the hope to boost their commercial application in energy conversion devices.

Polyolefin-Based Janus Separator for Rechargeable Sodium Batteries.

Rechargeable sodium batteries are a promising technology for low-cost energy storage. However, the undesirable drawbacks originating from the use of glass fiber membrane separators have long been overlooked. A versatile grafting-filtering strategy was developed to controllably tune commercial polyolefin separators for sodium batteries. The as-developed Janus separators contain a single-ion-conducting polymer-grafted side and a functional low-dimensional material coated side. When employed in room-temperature sodium-sulfur batteries, the poly(1-[3-(methacryloyloxy)propylsulfonyl]-1-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide sodium)-grafted side effectively enhances the electrolyte wettability, and inhibits polysulfide diffusion and sodium dendrite growth. Moreover, a titanium-deficient nitrogen-containing MXene-coated side electrocatalytically improved the polysulfide conversion kinetics. The as-developed batteries demonstrate high capacity and extended cycling life with lean electrolyte loading.

Polyolefin‐Based Janus Separator for Rechargeable Sodium Batteries

AbstractRechargeable sodium batteries are a promising technology for low‐cost energy storage. However, the undesirable drawbacks originating from the use of glass fiber membrane separators have long been overlooked. A versatile grafting–filtering strategy was developed to controllably tune commercial polyolefin separators for sodium batteries. The as‐developed Janus separators contain a single–ion‐conducting polymer‐grafted side and a functional low‐dimensional material coated side. When employed in room‐temperature sodium–sulfur batteries, the poly(1‐[3‐(methacryloyloxy)propylsulfonyl]‐1‐(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide sodium)‐grafted side effectively enhances the electrolyte wettability, and inhibits polysulfide diffusion and sodium dendrite growth. Moreover, a titanium‐deficient nitrogen‐containing MXene‐coated side electrocatalytically improved the polysulfide conversion kinetics. The as‐developed batteries demonstrate high capacity and extended cycling life with lean electrolyte loading.

Thin Solid Electrolyte Layers Enabled by Nanoscopic Polymer Binding

To achieve high-energy all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs), solid-state electrolytes (SE) must be thin, mechanically robust, and possess the ability to form low resistance interfaces with electrode materials. Embedding an inorganic SE into an organic polymer combines the merits of high conductivity and flexibility. However, the performance of such an SE-in-polymer matrix (SEPM) is highly dependent on the microstructure and interactions between the organic and inorganic components. We report on the synthesis of a free-standing, ultrathin (60 μm) SEPM from a solution of lithium polysulfide, phosphorus sulfide, and ethylene sulfide (ES), where the polysulfide triggers the in situ polymerization of ES and the formation of Li3PS4. Reactant ratios were optimized to achieve a room-temperature conductivity of 2 × 10–5 S cm–1. Cryogenic electron microscopy confirmed a uniform nanoscopic distribution of β-Li3PS4 and PES (polyethylene sulfide). This work presents a facile route to the scalable fabrication of ASSBs with promising cycling performance and low electrolyte loading.