Nanoporous UHMWPE Membrane Separators for Safer and High‐Power‐Density Rechargeable Batteries

Battery safety has been of critical concerns and there are renewed interest in developing safer membranes for enhancing the inherent safety of lithium ion batteries. In this paper, the synthesis of a robust and safer self‐reinforced composite ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) membrane...

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Main Authors: Runlai Li, Ping Gao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-07-01
Series:Global Challenges
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.201700020
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author Runlai Li
Ping Gao
author_facet Runlai Li
Ping Gao
author_sort Runlai Li
collection DOAJ
description Battery safety has been of critical concerns and there are renewed interest in developing safer membranes for enhancing the inherent safety of lithium ion batteries. In this paper, the synthesis of a robust and safer self‐reinforced composite ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) membrane is described. The self‐reinforced composite membrane consists of ≈200 nm nanopores homogeneously embedded inside interpenetrating nanofibrillar “shish kebab” networks. It performs thermal fuse function by selectively melting its kebab crystals while the elongated shish fibrillary backbones remain intact. Simulated thermal fuse function tests show that the newly prepared separator displays a 300% increase in tensile strength (550 MPa), 300% increase in puncture resistance (1.5 N μm−1), as well as an 18 000 times increase in impedance when lateral dimensions are kept constant. Cells prepared using the UHMWPE separators also exhibit a 10% higher energy density and better cyclability than those using commercial separators. Hence, the newly prepared ultrathin and dimensionally stable membrane will enhance the safety protections for rechargeable batteries with low impedance for high energy and power density.
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spelling doaj.art-9fd9a751550f4d5bb3bc522d324220672023-08-14T09:40:43ZengWileyGlobal Challenges2056-66462017-07-0114n/an/a10.1002/gch2.201700020Nanoporous UHMWPE Membrane Separators for Safer and High‐Power‐Density Rechargeable BatteriesRunlai Li0Ping Gao1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clear Water Bay Kowloon Hong KongDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clear Water Bay Kowloon Hong KongBattery safety has been of critical concerns and there are renewed interest in developing safer membranes for enhancing the inherent safety of lithium ion batteries. In this paper, the synthesis of a robust and safer self‐reinforced composite ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) membrane is described. The self‐reinforced composite membrane consists of ≈200 nm nanopores homogeneously embedded inside interpenetrating nanofibrillar “shish kebab” networks. It performs thermal fuse function by selectively melting its kebab crystals while the elongated shish fibrillary backbones remain intact. Simulated thermal fuse function tests show that the newly prepared separator displays a 300% increase in tensile strength (550 MPa), 300% increase in puncture resistance (1.5 N μm−1), as well as an 18 000 times increase in impedance when lateral dimensions are kept constant. Cells prepared using the UHMWPE separators also exhibit a 10% higher energy density and better cyclability than those using commercial separators. Hence, the newly prepared ultrathin and dimensionally stable membrane will enhance the safety protections for rechargeable batteries with low impedance for high energy and power density.https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.201700020LIB separatorsnanoporous membranesself‐reinforced compositeshape retentionUHMWPE
spellingShingle Runlai Li
Ping Gao
Nanoporous UHMWPE Membrane Separators for Safer and High‐Power‐Density Rechargeable Batteries
Global Challenges
LIB separators
nanoporous membranes
self‐reinforced composite
shape retention
UHMWPE
title Nanoporous UHMWPE Membrane Separators for Safer and High‐Power‐Density Rechargeable Batteries
title_full Nanoporous UHMWPE Membrane Separators for Safer and High‐Power‐Density Rechargeable Batteries
title_fullStr Nanoporous UHMWPE Membrane Separators for Safer and High‐Power‐Density Rechargeable Batteries
title_full_unstemmed Nanoporous UHMWPE Membrane Separators for Safer and High‐Power‐Density Rechargeable Batteries
title_short Nanoporous UHMWPE Membrane Separators for Safer and High‐Power‐Density Rechargeable Batteries
title_sort nanoporous uhmwpe membrane separators for safer and high power density rechargeable batteries
topic LIB separators
nanoporous membranes
self‐reinforced composite
shape retention
UHMWPE
url https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.201700020
work_keys_str_mv AT runlaili nanoporousuhmwpemembraneseparatorsforsaferandhighpowerdensityrechargeablebatteries
AT pinggao nanoporousuhmwpemembraneseparatorsforsaferandhighpowerdensityrechargeablebatteries