Polyethylene separator activated by hybrid coating improving Li+ ion transference number and ionic conductivity for Li-metal battery

Low Li+ ion transference number is one fatal defect of the liquid LiPF6 electrolyte for Li-metal anode based batteries. This work aims to improve Li+ ion transference number and ionic conductivity polyethylene (PE) separators. By a simple dip-coating method, the water-borne nanosized molecular sieve with 3D porous structure (ZSM-5) can be coated on PE separators. Especially, the Li+ ion transference number is greatly enhanced from 0.28 to 0.44, which should be attributed to the specific pore structure and channel environment of ZSM-5 as well as the interaction between ZSM-5 and electrolyte. Compared with the pristine PE separator, the ionic conductivity of modified separators is remarkably improved from 0.30 to 0.54 mS cm−1. As results, the C-rate capability and cycling stability are both improved. The Li-metal battery using the ZSM-5-modified PE separator keeps 94.2% capacity after 100 cycles. In contrast, the discharge capacity retention of the battery using pristine PE is only 74.7%. [Display omitted] •PE separator was modified by water-borne hybrid coating materials.•Both Li+ ion transference number and ionic conductivity were improved.•The discharge capacity retention of batteries was increased by coated separator.