Metal organic framework-based composite solid-state electrolyte for lithium metal batteries

锂离子电池（LIB）是一种很有前途的电化学存储技术，可用于广泛的能量存储和转换应用，特别是电网和电动汽车（EV）。然而，关键的存储容量和行驶里程限制促使人们开发出配备有可能支持更高能量密度的金属锂阳极的新一代锂离子电池。这些所谓的锂金属电池的广泛部署一直进展缓慢，因为该技术的传统液体电解质会导致锂枝晶的形成，从而存在安全隐患（火灾和爆炸）。固态电解质（SSE）的使用是解决这个问题的一个有前途的解决方案，提供了远远优越的安全性能。然而，最常见的SSE（纯陶瓷或聚合物基系统）受到电化学稳定性不佳和与电极的界面接触不良，或离子电导率低和热稳定性差的限制。需要解决这些关键缺点才能推动锂金属电池走向商业化。该项目将推进一种新型的基于金属有机骨架（MOF）的复合材料SSE（CSSE），其中MOF系统高度可控，并具有直接生长到聚合物基体和活性材料上的关键优势，以实现良好的稳定性、低界面电阻、更高的电导率和良好的柔韧性。由此产生的技术将满足对良好 SSE 日益严格的要求，即使在高电压操作下也是如此。具体来说，滑铁卢大学陈中伟博士的团队将与两家领先的工程电池平台和零部件制造商EVT Power Inc.和Forte Mobility Co. Ltd.合作，以填补知识空白并代表锂金属电池技术开发的巨大进步。该项目将帮助加拿大锂离子电池制造商以更低的成本和更少的环境影响，为加拿大及其他地区的电动汽车和电网存储应用生产大型电池。此外，该项目还将为加拿大能源存储、汽车制造和交通运输行业培养一批新的创新人才。

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are promising electrochemical storage technologies for a wide range of energy storage and conversion applications, particularly energy grids and electric vehicles (EVs). However, critical storage capacity and driving range limitations have prompted the development of a new generation of LIBs, equipped with metallic Li anodes that potentially support higher energy density. Widespread deployment of these so-called Li metal batteries has been slow, owing to safety hazards (fires and explosions) linked to Li dendrite formation caused by the technology's conventional liquid electrolytes. The use of solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) is a promising solution to this problem, offering far superior safety performance. However, the most common SSEs, pure ceramic or polymer based systems are limited by unsatisfactory electrochemical stability and poor interfacial contact with electrodes, or low ionic conductivity and poor thermal stability. Solutions to these critical shortcomings are required to drive Li metal batteries towards commercialization. The proposed project will advance a novel metal organic framework (MOF)-based composite SSE (CSSE), in which MOF systems are highly controllable and offer key advantages of direct growth onto polymer matrices and active material to achieve good stability, low interfacial resistance, higher conductivity, and good flexibility. The resulting technology will satisfy increasingly strict requirements for a good SSE, even under high voltage operation. Specifically, Dr. Zhongwei Chen's group at the University of Waterloo will work with two leading manufacturers of engineered battery platforms and parts, EVT Power Inc. and Forte Mobility Co. Ltd., to fill the knowledge gaps and represent immense progress on Li metal battery technology development. The project will help enable Canadian LIB manufacturers to produce large-scale batteries for EV and energy grid storage applications in Canada and beyond, at a lower cost and with less environmental impact. Moreover, this project will train a new pool of innovators for Canada's energy storage, automobile manufacturing, and transportation industries.