Design of a high performance zeolite/polyimide composite separator for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

Azeolite/polyimide composite separator with a spongy-like structure was prepared by phase inversion methods based on heat-resistant polyimide (PI) polymer matrix and ZSM-5 zeolite filler, with the aim to improve the thermal stability and electrochemical properties of corresponding batteries. The separator exhibits enhanced thermal stability and no shrinkage up to 180 ffiC. The introduction of a certain number of ZSM-5 zeolites endows the composite separator with enhanced wettability and electrolyte uptake, better facilitating the free transport of lithium-ion. Furthermore, the composite separator shows a high ionic conductivity of 1.04 mS cm-1 at 25 °C, and a high decomposition potential of 4.7 V. Compared with the PP separator and pristine PI separator, the ZSM-5/PI composite separator based LiFePO4/Li cells have better rate capability (133 mAh g-1 at 2 C) and cycle performance (145 mAh g-1 at 0.5 C after 50 cycles). These results demonstrate that the ZSM-5/PI composite separator is promising for high-performance and high-safety lithium-ion batteries.