Diverse polymer structure design: a key enabler for advanced lithium-based batteries

Abstract

The growing demand for batteries with higher energy density and improved safety necessitates the development of advanced electrode materials beyond conventional systems. Although high-energy electrodes offer superior theoretical capacities, they encounter major challenges, including structural instability caused by volume changes and uncontrollable dissolution. These issues contribute to performance degradation and safety risks at both the electrode and cell levels. Addressing these persistent problems is therefore essential to achieving safe, high-energy-density batteries. Polymers, with their versatile functionalities, present significant opportunities in this regard. The strategic design and deployment of tailored polymer architectures can enhance structural stability and improve cell configurations. In this work, we highlight the role of polymer chemistry in governing electrochemical behavior and demonstrate how it can drive substantial improvements in both performance metrics and the critical safety features required for reliable battery operation. © The Author(s) 2026.