Polymer Electrolytes for Lithium Metal Batteries

For applications that require the storage and conversion of large quantities of energy such as electric vehicles and renewable intermittent energy systems, batteries combining high energy density (kWh/kg), low cost (euros/kWh), high reliability and long service life are necessary. Among various technologies under development, “all solid” lithium-metal-polymer batteries are particularly promising. The difficulties of this technology lie in the use of lithium metal at the negative electrode and the development of a polymer electrolyte allowing operation at room temperature. Different strategies developed based on dry polymer electrolytes, plasticized electrolytes, gelled electrolytes and rubber electrolytes are presented in this article.