Metal–Organic Framework Separator as a Polyselenide Filter for High-Performance Lithium–Selenium Batteries

• Published in: ACS applied energy materials 2021-12, Vol.4 (12), p.13450-13460
• Main Authors: Hossain, Md. Anwar, Tulaphol, Sarttrawut, Thapa, Arjun K, Rahaman, Mohammad Shahinur, Jasinski, Jacek B, Wang, Hui, Sunkara, Mahendra K, Syzdek, Jaroslaw, Ozdemir, Osman K, Ornstein, Jason M, Sathitsuksanoh, Noppadon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2574-0962; 2574-0962
• DOI: 10.1021/acsaem.1c01806

Rapid self-discharge, poor cycling stability, and low Coulombic efficiency from polyselenide shuttling have retarded practical applications of lithium–selenium batteries. Here, we show that a cation-selective PCN separator of PCN-250­(Fe) metal–organic frameworks coated on a porous polypropylene membrane suppresses polyselenide shuttle and enhances lithium-ion transport in lithium–selenium batteries. The Lewis acid sites of this PCN separator acted as selective barriers that immobilized polyselenides and provided uniform and stable lithium nucleation and growth during cycling. Lithium–selenium cells with the PCN separator had a stable and reversible electrochemical performance with a high discharge capacity of 423 mAh/g at C/5 and a Coulombic efficiency of >98% for 500 cycles. This work provides a guide for developing high-performance lithium–selenium batteries by a cation-selective separator strategy. This PCN separator can be applied to alkali-metal and alkali-metal chalcogenide battery systems.