Development of conductive and flexible citric acid-crosslinked carboxymethyl cellulose/PVA electrolyte membranes via lithium perchlorate doping
摘要
Designing high-performance solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) remains a key challenge, primarily due to their inherently low ionic conductivity, which hampers the advancement of all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries (ASSLiBs). In this work, we address this limitation by developing a green, crosslinked polymer blend comprising carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) – extracted and functionalized from palm frond fibers – and poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA). Citric acid (CA) was utilized as a crosslinking agent, while lithium perchlorate (LiClO4) was incorporated as a dopant to enhance ionic conductivity. The SPE membranes were fabricated via solution casting, with the optimized formulation – designated CP-15X-Li25 – containing 15 wt.-% CA and 25 wt.-% LiClO4. The CP-15X-Li25 exhibited a smooth cross-sectional morphology with localized, well-defined crystal-like features. It demonstrated excellent thermal stability, with decomposition temperatures occurring between 267.42 °C and 363.07 °C, and exceptional mechanical flexibility, with elongation at break (EB) of 699.21%. These enhancements were accompanied by a reduction in crystallinity index (Cr. I = 28.54%) and a decrease in tensile strength (TS = 0.69 MPa), reflecting a trade-off between elasticity and stiffness. Electrochemically, CP-15X-Li25 delivered a bulk ionic conductivity of 1.25 × 10−4 S.cm−1, a lithium-transference number (tLi+) of 0.88, and an electrochemical stability window (ESW) of 2.11 V. These results underscore the potential of CP-15X-Li25 as a safer, more flexible, and sustainable alternative to conventional liquid electrolytes for next-generation ASSLiBs.