Mini Review on Cellulose-Based Composite Separators for Lithium-Ion Batteries: Recent Progress and Perspectives

Abstract

A lithium-ion battery separator is one of the essential components of a lithium-ion battery structure. It has attracted wide attention as a result of providing efficient transmission channels of lithium ions, isolating pro and con electrodes to prevent short circuits. However, traditional petroleum-based separators encounter great challenges in battery recycling, charge transfer, sustainable use, etc. Cellulose provides an environmentally friendly, green alternative. In this mini review, we summarize the working principle of lithium-ion batteries and the main technical requirements for the use of separators as well as the latest research direction of cellulose-based lithium-ion battery separators. It brings breakthroughs in the fields of electrochemistry and energy chemistry, polymer chemistry, and energy materials and also provides a new inspiration for the commercialization of lithium-ion-battery-coating separators.

Hexagonal Boron Nitride-Coated Polyimide Ion Track Etched Separator with Enhanced Thermal Conductivity and High-Temperature Stability for Lithium-Ion Batteries

“…Another effective method to improve the thermal stability of the separator is to coat high-temperature resistant polymer layers or branched organic molecules, such as ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, polyethylene glycol, and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) on PE or PP separator surfaces. A further option is to adopt advanced techniques to change the separator materials from polyolefin to polymers with a high melting point and low shrinkage upon heating, such as cellulose, , poly­(butylene) terephthalate, poly­(ether-ether-ketone), polyimide (PI), polyacrylonitrile, , PVDF, poly­(diphenyl ether oxadiazole) sulfonate, and other analogous poly­(esters) . Enhancing the thermal conductivity of the separator can promote heat dissipation and relieve thermal stress caused by temperature inhomogeneity.…”

“…A further option is to adopt advanced techniques to change the separator materials from polyolefin to polymers with a high melting point and low shrinkage upon heating, such as cellulose, 24,25 poly(butylene) terephthalate, poly(ether-ether-ketone), 26 polyimide (PI), 27 polyacrylonitrile, 28,29 PVDF, 30 poly(diphenyl ether oxadiazole) sulfonate, 31 and other analogous poly(esters). 32 Enhancing the thermal conductivity of the separator can promote heat dissipation and relieve thermal stress caused by temperature inhomogeneity. Very recently, Xue et al fabricated composite polymer membranes using the electrospinning technology based on silica-coated silver nanowires and poly(vinylidene fluoridehexafluoropropylene) for use in LIBs, demonstrating their enhanced thermal stability, thermal conductivity, and electrochemical properties.…”

“Polymer-in-Ceramic” Membrane for Thermally Safe Separator Applications

“…From a structural point of view, LIBs are mainly composed of four parts: anode, cathode, separator, and electrolyte. , As the core component of LIBs, the separator can separate the positive and negative electrodes of LIBs to avoid short circuits. Meanwhile, the porous structure of the separator allows ions to pass selectively and freely so that the reactions inside the battery are reversible .…”

Paperator: The Paper-Based Ceramic Separator for Lithium-Ion Batteries and the Process Scale-Up Strategy

“…Various reports on cellulose-based separators known so far depicted the scope of further improvement of their performance both in terms of physical and electrochemical properties, which would be an environment-friendly alternate for use as separators in LiBs and other similar electrochemical energy storage devices. In a recent article, Sun et al suggested that the electrochemical performances of batteries can further be enhanced by incorporating ferroelectric nanoparticles within the polymer-ceramic-based electrolytes, where ferroelectric materials facilitate the dissociation of electrolytic salts and also enhance the Li-ion stability at the electrode–electrolyte interface . All the related past literature showed that embedding ceramic nanoparticles inside any porous membrane for use either as an electrolyte or a separator has significant effect on increasing ionic conductivity and thermal and mechanical stability.…”

“…In a recent article, Sun et al 25 suggested that the electrochemical performances of batteries can further be enhanced by incorporating ferroelectric nanoparticles within the polymer-ceramic-based electrolytes, where ferroelectric materials facilitate the dissociation of electrolytic salts and also enhance the Li-ion stability at the electrode−electrolyte interface. 26 All the related past literature showed that embedding ceramic nanoparticles inside any porous membrane for use either as an electrolyte or a separator has significant effect on increasing ionic conductivity and thermal and mechanical stability. However, incorporation of BaTiO 3 nanoparticles within the cellulosic matrix and the study of the electrochemical performance of such composites as separator are not yet explored in depth for LiBs/SCs.…”