Molecular Bridging Creates an Interconnected Coordination Network for Continuous Li + Hopping in Polymer Electrolytes

ABSTRACT Fast and selective lithium ion (Li + ) transport in polymer electrolytes requires continuous, low‐barrier hopping pathways at room temperature. Here, we construct a multifunctional three‐dimensional polymer network in which solid succinonitrile (SN) dynamically couples adjacent ether and ester coordination sites, creating a bridge‐mediated, nanoscopically continuous Li + pathway. High‐field (up to 18.8 T) multinuclear multidimensional solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance directly reveals that SN cooperates with polymer chains to form an interconnected coordination network. Acting as a dynamic molecular bridge, this network shortens Li─O transport distances to below 7 Å and accelerates Li + hopping. Meanwhile, boron‐containing moieties associate with bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide anions (FSI) and restrict their local mobility, enhancing Li + selectivity. Variable‐temperature measurements confirm accelerated local Li + dynamics with a correlation activation energy of 0.07 eV and suppressed anion motion. Consequently, the electrolyte delivers an ionic conductivity of 1.31 mS cm −1 and a Li + transference number of 0.61 at 30°C. It also enables stable cycling with high‐loading cathodes, retaining 89.8% capacity after 200 cycles with LiFePO 4 (12.9 mg cm −2 ) and robustly operating with LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 (10.0 mg cm −2 ). This work establishes a molecular structure‐dynamics framework for regulating Li + hopping and provides a practical strategy for advanced polymer electrolytes through rational engineering of dynamic local coordination environments.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Functional Materials
Published
2026-09-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.78484
Primary Topic
Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Molecular Bridging Creates an Interconnected Coordination Network for Continuous Li + Hopping in Polymer Electrolytes

Guangjin Hou, Chengyu Li, Qing Wang, Chenjie Lou et al.
Advanced Functional Materials
Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies
article

Molecular Bridging Creates an Interconnected Coordination Network for Continuous Li + Hopping in Polymer Electrolytes

Guangjin Hou, Chengyu Li, Qing Wang, Chenjie Lou, Haiyan Zheng, Ligang Xu, Mingxue Tang, Wenda Zhang, Jun Xu, Lixin Liang, Peipei Ding, Yongjin Chen, Jie Liu, Yongchao Shi
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Fast and selective lithium ion (Li + ) transport in polymer electrolytes requires continuous, low‐barrier hopping pathways at room temperature. Here, we construct a multifunctional three‐dimensional polymer network in which solid succinonitrile (SN) dynamically couples adjacent ether and ester coordination sites, creating a bridge‐mediated, nanoscopically continuous Li + pathway. High‐field (up to 18.8 T) multinuclear multidimensional solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance directly reveals that SN cooperates with polymer chains to form an interconnected coordination network. Acting as a dynamic molecular bridge, this network shortens Li─O transport distances to below 7 Å and accelerates Li + hopping. Meanwhile, boron‐containing moieties associate with bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide anions (FSI) and restrict their local mobility, enhancing Li + selectivity. Variable‐temperature measurements confirm accelerated local Li + dynamics with a correlation activation energy of 0.07 eV and suppressed anion motion. Consequently, the electrolyte delivers an ionic conductivity of 1.31 mS cm −1 and a Li + transference number of 0.61 at 30°C. It also enables stable cycling with high‐loading cathodes, retaining 89.8% capacity after 200 cycles with LiFePO 4 (12.9 mg cm −2 ) and robustly operating with LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 (10.0 mg cm −2 ). This work establishes a molecular structure‐dynamics framework for regulating Li + hopping and provides a practical strategy for advanced polymer electrolytes through rational engineering of dynamic local coordination environments.

Advanced Functional Materials
Shanghai Jiao Tong University (CN), Nankai University (CN), Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy (CN), Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research (CN), Center for High Pressure Science & Technology Advanced Research (CN), Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering Tianjin (CN), State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, University of Science and Technology Beijing (CN), Tsinghua University (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics
Openalex Percentile: Top 21%
Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies
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