Scientific Achievement
By inverting a process by which drugs are designed and screened to identify those that bind to a host protein, we discovered a microporous polymer membrane whose pores selectively bind lithium salts, enhancing lithium salt permeability in the membrane.
Significance and Impact
Lithium batteries were more efficient and lasted longer when polymer membranes featuring lithium-ion solvation cages were implemented as a protective layer on the lithium anode.
Research Details
- The diversity-oriented synthesis approach provided access to a remarkably large library of polymers from which to screen the underlying structure–transport properties.
- PIM membranes featuring ion solvation cages exhibit higher ionic conductivity and cation transference number.
- Li+ solvating PIM membranes show promise as anode-stabilizing interlayers in high-voltage Li metal batteries, enhancing accessible capacity and cycle life, and promoting even stripping and plating of the lithium metal anode, which was confirmed by synchrotron X-ray microtomography.
