Construction and measurement of polymer and oxide ceramic solid electrolytes for lithium batteries

Project description:

In order to realize batteries with a high energy density, a Li metal anode along with a solid electrolyte or a separator is required. First of all, solid-state electrolytes such as polymer electrolytes or nanocomposite electrolytes as well as Li-ion conducting ceramic oxide electrolytes were prepared and examined in terms of suitability for Li-metal batteries. Within the cooperation, two promising new approaches for the fabrication of hybrid solid electrolytes are being pursued: By introducing “hard” Li-ion conducting ceramic nanoparticles into a “soft” polymer matrix, polymer nanocomposites can be realized that can supress dendrite formation in Lithium metal batteries. Alternatively, a composite of polymer and ceramic solid electrolyte is being investigated which is deposited via scalable powder aerosol deposition (PAD). This way the overall mass of pure solid electrolyte is reduced. In addition, these materials in combination can offer the optimal compromise between a high modulus of elasticity and good surface adhesion to metallic lithium in order to achieve the lowest possible interface resistance with sufficiently high mechanical strength.

Project duration: 10/2019 - 09/2022

Principal investigators:

• Prof. Dr. Mukundan Thelakkat, Applied functional polymers (AFUPO), Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences
• Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ralf Moos, Department of Functional Materials (FM), Faculty of Engineering

PhD students:

• Dominic Rosenbach, M.Sc., Applied functional polymers (AFUPO)
• Dipl.-Ing. Tobias Nazarenus, Chair of Functional Materials (FM)