One-Dimensional Polymer Strategy for High-Performance/Flexible Lithium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

Rapidly emerging smart energy era is in strong pursuit of full-fledged rechargeable power sources with reliable electrochemical performances and versatile form factors. To date, most research approaches have still relied on traditional synthetic materials and stereotyped electrode architecture, which have posed a major obstacle to sustainable/innovative progress of energy storage systems. Here, as a facile and effective one-dimensional (1D) polymer strategy to resolve the aforementioned long-standing challenges, we demonstrate a new class of heteronanomat-architectured electrodes based electrospun polymeric nanofibers. This material/structural uniqueness allows the formation of three-dimensional bicontinuous interstitial void channels and electron networks. As a result, the heteronanomat electrodes provide unprecedented advances in the electrochemical performance and shape flexibility far beyond those achievable with conventional battery technologies.