Zwitterionic materials with disorder and plasticity and their application as non-volatile solid or liquid electrolytes

Bringing stability to lithium-battery electrolytes through disorder

27 April 2022

A family of special molecules, known as zwitterionic molecules, that possess both positively and negatively charged groups is showing promise as a new source of stable electrolytes in lithium batteries.

The properties of zwitterionic materials can be varied over a wide range by attaching different positively and negatively charged groups to their molecules. These materials have been used as additives in electrolytes, but their use as electrolyte materials has gone unexplored.

Now, by investigating the properties of zwitterionic materials that exhibit both disorder on a molecular level and plasticity, a team led by researchers from Deakin University in Australia has found they are suitable as solid and liquid electrolytes for safe lithium batteries.

These zwitterionic molecules could be used as plastic electrolytes, the researchers note. Furthermore, unlike conventional lithium-battery electrolytes, they are non-flammable.

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References

1. Nature Materials 21, 228–236 (2022). doi: 10.1038/s41563-021-01130-z