New solid-state electrolyte enables lithium batteries to operate from -40°C to 55°C with high stability.
Researchers have developed a new solid-state polymer electrolyte that could help lithium metal batteries operate across a wide temperature range while maintaining high-voltage performance. The team from South China Normal University designed a cross-linked poly, or poly, electrolyte that addresses several long-standing challenges facing solid-state batteries.
These batteries are considered a promising alternative to conventional lithium-ion systems because they replace flammable liquid electrolytes with safer solid materials. However, most solid-state polymer electrolytes suffer from poor ionic conductivity, weak contact with battery electrodes, and limited stability at high voltages. Existing in-situ polymerized polyether electrolytes also tend to degrade when paired with high-voltage cathodes, reducing battery life and performance.
To overcome these limitations, the researchers developed an electrolyte that forms directly inside the battery through an in-situ polymerization process. Because the material starts as a liquid precursor before solidifying, it can achieve close contact with the battery’s electrodes while remaining compatible with current lithium-ion battery production methods. The researchers tackled three major problems at once: voltage stability, ion transport, and electrode protection.
First, they replaced the commonly used monomer 1,3-dioxolane with tetrahydrofuran. According to the team, the change improved oxidation stability, allowing the electrolyte to withstand voltages up to 4.9 volts.
Next, they introduced ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether as a cross-linking agent. The resulting three-dimensional structure created additional pathways for lithium-ion movement, boosting ionic conductivity to 3.3 mS/cm at room temperature. The third component was lithium difluoroborate, or LiDFOB. Beyond serving as a lithium salt, the material also initiated polymerization and helped form a protective interphase on both electrodes.
The interphase contains lithium fluoride and boron-oxygen-fluorine compounds that reduce unwanted side reactions and help stabilize battery performance during repeated charging and discharging cycles.
“We realized that simply designing a polymer with high oxidation stability usually means sacrificing ionic conductivity,” the authors said. “That’s why we introduced the cross-linker—to add back the hopping sites for lithium ions without compromising voltage stability. ”The electrolyte was tested with lithium metal batteries using nickel-rich NCM811 and lithium cobalt oxide cathodes. The batteries remained stable at a high cut-off voltage of 4.5 volts over hundreds of charge-discharge cycles with minimal capacity loss.
“The real surprise came from LiDFOB: it doesn’t just start the polymerization, it builds a protective armor on both electrodes,” the authors said.polymerization , battery manufacturers won’t need to overhaul their production lines—it’s a drop-in solution that works with existing equipment,” the authors said. The researchers believe the same design strategy could eventually be adapted to other battery chemistries, including sodium-based and lithium-sulfur systems.
With over a decade-long career in journalism, Neetika Walter has worked with The Economic Times, ANI, and Hindustan Times, covering politics, business, technology, and the clean energy sector. Passionate about contemporary culture, books, poetry, and storytelling, she brings depth and insight to her writing. When she isn’t chasing stories, she’s likely lost in a book or enjoying the company of her dogs.
Electric Vehicles Electrolyte Energy Storage Escience Energy Ionic Conductivity Lithium Metal Battery Solid-State Battery
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