A Polyurea‐Crosslinked Gel Polymer Electrolyte for Solvation and Interphase Regulation in Lithium Metal Batteries

ABSTRACT Polyurea (PUR) electrolytes offer molecular tunability, robust mechanics, and strong Li‐salt affinity for lithium metal batteries, but their application is hindered by poor solubility, uncontrolled polymerization, and unstable Li/electrolyte interfaces. Herein, we report two polyurea‐based polymerizable monomers with distinct functionalities, DPN and MPN , and construct flame‐retardant polyurea gel polymer electrolytes ( P‐DPN and P‐MPN ) through an in situ polymerization strategy. This design simultaneously addresses solubility, electrolyte leakage, and interfacial instability. Mechanistic investigations reveal that the carbonyl groups in the urea moieties coordinate with lithium ion (Li + ) to homogenize lithium deposition, while the –NH groups interact with anions to induce weakly solvated Li + structures, thereby accelerating ion transport. Meanwhile, the low HOMO energy level of the polyurea framework promotes the formation of a robust LiF/Li 3 N‐rich inorganic solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), effectively suppressing parasitic reactions and dendrite growth. As a result, the Li|| P‐MPN ||Li symmetric cell exhibits stable cycling for over 2300 h, and full cells paired with diverse cathodes (including NCM811, LCO, and LFP) exhibit outstanding cycling stability under high cathode loading and even at −20°C. This work establishes a molecular design strategy for in situ polyurea electrolytes and deepens the understanding of solvation/interphase regulation in high‐performance and safe lithium metal batteries.

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Publication Details

Journal
Angewandte Chemie
Published
2026-05-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.8382245
Primary Topic
Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

A Polyurea‐Crosslinked Gel Polymer Electrolyte for Solvation and Interphase Regulation in Lithium Metal Batteries

Hankun Zhang, Zhenhuan Zhang, Benhua Wang, Xiangzhi Song et al.
Angewandte Chemie
Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies
article

A Polyurea‐Crosslinked Gel Polymer Electrolyte for Solvation and Interphase Regulation in Lithium Metal Batteries

Hankun Zhang, Zhenhuan Zhang, Benhua Wang, Xiangzhi Song, Jie Yang, Chao Fu, Yueping Wang, Yi-Xiang Wang, Kefei Wang, Huafeng Cao, Gui‐Chao Kuang, Jinqiang Gao, Libao Chen
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Polyurea (PUR) electrolytes offer molecular tunability, robust mechanics, and strong Li‐salt affinity for lithium metal batteries, but their application is hindered by poor solubility, uncontrolled polymerization, and unstable Li/electrolyte interfaces. Herein, we report two polyurea‐based polymerizable monomers with distinct functionalities, DPN and MPN , and construct flame‐retardant polyurea gel polymer electrolytes ( P‐DPN and P‐MPN ) through an in situ polymerization strategy. This design simultaneously addresses solubility, electrolyte leakage, and interfacial instability. Mechanistic investigations reveal that the carbonyl groups in the urea moieties coordinate with lithium ion (Li + ) to homogenize lithium deposition, while the –NH groups interact with anions to induce weakly solvated Li + structures, thereby accelerating ion transport. Meanwhile, the low HOMO energy level of the polyurea framework promotes the formation of a robust LiF/Li 3 N‐rich inorganic solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), effectively suppressing parasitic reactions and dendrite growth. As a result, the Li|| P‐MPN ||Li symmetric cell exhibits stable cycling for over 2300 h, and full cells paired with diverse cathodes (including NCM811, LCO, and LFP) exhibit outstanding cycling stability under high cathode loading and even at −20°C. This work establishes a molecular design strategy for in situ polyurea electrolytes and deepens the understanding of solvation/interphase regulation in high‐performance and safe lithium metal batteries.

Angewandte Chemie
Central South University (CN), China Mobile (China) (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Openalex Percentile: Top 11%
Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies
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