Citation: Chao Zhang, Hong-Qing Liang, Jun-Ke Pi, Guang-Peng Wu, Zhi-Kang Xu. Polypropylene Separators with Robust Mussel-inspired Coatings for High Lithium-ion Battery Performances[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, ;2019, 37(10): 1015-1022. doi: 10.1007/s10118-019-2310-4 shu

Polypropylene Separators with Robust Mussel-inspired Coatings for High Lithium-ion Battery Performances

Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization (Ministry of Education), and Key Laboratory of Adsorption and Separation Materials and Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China

Corresponding author: Guang-Peng Wu, gpwu@zju.edu.cn Zhi-Kang Xu, xuzk@zju.edu.cn
Received Date: 12 April 2019
Revised Date: 28 May 2019
Available Online: 18 July 2019

The performances of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are dependent on the wettability and stability of porous separators. Mussel-inspired coatings seem to be useful to improve the surface wettability of commercialized polyolefin separators. However, it is still a challenge to guarantee their stability under polar electrolytes. Herein, we report a facile and versatile way to enhance the wettability and stability of polypropylene separators by constructing robust polydopamine (PDA) coatings triggered with CuSO₄/H₂O₂. These coatings were conveniently deposited on the polypropylene separator surfaces and the PDA-coated separators exhibited the improved surface wettability and thermal stability. The electrolyte uptake increased nearly two folds from the pristine separator to the modified ones. Correspondingly, the ionic conductivity also rose from 0.82 mS·cm^–1 to 1.30 mS·cm^–1. Most importantly, the CuSO₄/H₂O₂-triggered PDA coatings were very stable under strong polar electrolytes, endowing the cells with excellent cycle performance and enhanced C-rate capacity. Overall, the results unequivocally demonstrate that application of PDA coatings on polyolefin separator triggered by CuSO₄/H₂O₂ is a facile and efficient method for improving the wettability and stability of separators for high LIBs performance.
- Polypropylene separator,
- Lithium-ion battery,
- Surface wettability,
- Dopamine,
- Mussel-inspired coatings
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