Unveiling the Role of Filler Characteristics in Enhancing the High-Voltage Performance of Succinonitrile-Based Solid-State Lithium–Metal Batteries

For exploiting high-energy lithium-metal batteries, it is of utmost importance to develop electrolytes that possess exceptional ionic conductivity and an extensive electrochemical stability range. In this study, 3D PAN nanofibers and polymer electrolytes incorporating various inorganic fillers with different Lewis acid-base properties were fabricated. PAN@Al-SSE exhibits exceptional ionic conductivity (0.48 mS·cm^-2 at room temperature), a high Li⁺ transference number (0.41), and a wide electrochemical window (5.26 V). The device is able to operate stably in Li symmetric cells for more than 1000 h under a potential of 0.03 V under a current density of 0.2 mA·cm^-2. Besides, the groundbreaking technology equips high-voltage Li-LiCoO₂ solid-state batteries with exceptional cycling performance (91.3% and 82.1% retention after 100 cycles at 0.2 and 1 C, respectively) at room temperature. Mechanistic studies indicate that the Lewis acid-base properties of surface fillers are instrumental and crucial to form a stable solid-electrolyte interphase layer. γ-Al₂O₃, in particular, with more Lewis acid sites, ensures the dissociation of LiTFSI and induces the excessive decomposition and polymerization of succinonitrile. There exists an equilibrium effect between dissociation and polymerization in a succinonitrile-based solid electrolyte, which plays a critical role in improving the manifestation of succinonitrile-based solid-state lithium cells, especially under high-voltage conditions.