High-Performance Pure Polymer Electrolytes with Enhanced Ionic Conductivity for Room-Temperature Applications.

All-solid-state lithium metal batteries (ASSLMBs) are renowned for their high energy density and safety, positioning them as leading candidates for next-generation energy storage solutions. In this study, pure polymer solid-state electrolytes are developed using the solution casting method, optimized for room temperature operation. The base material, poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP), is enhanced with succinonitrile (SN) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) to improve its electrochemical performance at room temperature. The optimized electrolyte, PSP-0.05, demonstrated superior characteristics, including an ionic conductivity (σ) of 3.2 × 10-4 S cm-1 and a wide voltage window of up to 5 V. When integrated into full batteries, PSP-0.05 exhibited exceptional performance in multiplicative cycling tests at room temperature, achieving discharge specific capacities of 132 and 113 mAh g-1 at 3 and 5 C rates, respectively. Additionally, long-term cycling at 1 C rate resulted in an initial discharge-specific capacity of 145.2 mAh g-1 with over 94.9% capacity retention after 1000 cycles. Given the simplicity of the preparation process and its impressive electrochemical properties, the PSP-0.05 electrolyte holds significant potential for practical applications in safer ASSLMBs.

PVDF-HFP encapsulated WS2nanosheets in droplet-based triboelectric nanogenerators for possible detection of human Na+/K+ion concentration.

Here we report the liquid-solid interaction in droplet-based triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) for estimation of human Na+/K+levels. The exploitation of PVDF-HFP encapsulated WS2as active layer in the droplet-based TENG (DTENG) leads to the generation of electrical signal during the impact of water droplet. Comparison over the control devices indicates that surface quality and dielectric nature of the PVDF-HFP/WS2composite largely dictates the performance of the DTENG. The demonstration of excellent sensitivity of the DTENG towards water quality indicates its promising application towards water testing. In addition, the alteration in output signal with slightest variation in ionic concentration (Na+or K+) in water has been witnessed and is interpreted with charge transfer and ion transfer processes during liquid-solid interaction. The study reveals that the ion mobility largely affects the ion adsorption process on the active layer of PVDF-HFP/WS2and thus generates distinct output profiles for diverse ions like Na+and K+. Following that, the DTENG characteristics have been exploited to artificial urine where the varying output signals have been recorded for variation in urinary Na+ion concentration. Therefore, the deployment of PVDF-HFP/WS2in DTENG holds promising application towards the analyse of ionic characteristics of body fluids.

Effect of Sonication Batch on Electrical Properties of Graphitic-Based PVDF-HFP Strain Sensors for Use in Health Monitoring.

In this study, flexible nanocomposites made from PVDF-HFP reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) are manufactured using a sonication and solvent casting method for monitoring purposes. More specifically, the effect of the volume batch under the sonication process is explored. For CNT-based composites, the electrical conductivity decreases as the batch volume increases due to less effective dispersion of the CNTs during the 30-min sonication. The maximum electrical conductivity achieved in this type of sensor is 1.44 ± 0.17 S/m. For the GNP-based nanocomposites, the lower the batch volume is, the more breakage of nanoplatelets is induced by sonication, and the electrical response decreases. This is also validated by AC analysis, where the characteristic frequencies are extracted. Here, the maximum electrical conductivity measured is 8.66 ± 1.76 S/m. The electromechanical results also show dependency on the batch volume. In the CNT-based nanocomposites, the higher gauge factor achieved corresponds to the batch size, where the sonication may be more effective because it leads to a dispersed pathway formed by aggregates connected by tunneling mechanisms. In contrast, in the CNT-based nanocomposites, the GF depends on the lateral size of the GNPs. The biggest GF of all sensors is achieved with the PVDF-HFP/GNP sensors, having a value of 69.36 × 104 at 35% of strain, while the highest GF achieved with a PVDF-HFP/CNT sensor is 79.70 × 103 at 70%. In addition, cycling tests show robust electromechanical response with cycling for two different strain percentages for each type of nanocomposite. The sensor with the highest sensitivity is selected for monitoring two joint movements as proof of the applicability of the sensors manufactured.

Al and Ta co-doped LLZO as active filler with enhanced Li+conductivity for PVDF-HFP composite solid-state electrolyte.

Battery safety calls for solid state batteries and how to prepare solid electrolytes with excellent performance are of significant importance. In this study, hybrid solid electrolytes combined with organic PVDF-HFP and inorganic active fillers are studied. The modified active fillers of Li7-x-3yAlyLa3Zr2-xTaxO12are obtained by co-element doping with Al and Ta when LLZO is synthesized by calcination. And an high room temperature ionic conductivity of 5.357 × 10-4S cm-1is exhibited by ATLLZO ceramic sheet. The composite solid electrolyte PVDF-HFP/LiTFSI/ATLLZO (PHL-ATLLZO) is prepared by solution casting method, and its electrochemical properties are investigated. The results show that when the contents of lithium salt LiTFSI and active filler ATLLZO are controlled at 40 wt% and 10%, respectively, the ionic conductivity of the resulting composite solid electrolyte is as high as 2.686 × 10-4S cm-1at room temperature, and a wide electrochemical window of 4.75 V is exhibited. The LiFePO4/PHL-ATLLZO/Li all-solid-state battery assembled based on the composite solid-state electrolyte exhibits excellent cycling stability at room temperature. The cell assembled by casting the composite solid-state electrolyte on the cathode surface shows a discharge specific capacity of 134.3 mAh g-1and 96.2% capacity retention after 100 cycles at 0.2 C. The prepared composite solid-state electrolyte demonstrates excellent electrochemical performance.

Metal oxide nanocomposite based flexible nanogenerator: synergic effect of light and pressure.

Here, we report the fabrication of nanocomposite comprising of CuO and poly (vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoro propylene) (PVDF-HFP) for application in flexible piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENG). The chemically grown CuO nanostructures have been characterized through electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and spectroscopic techniques. It has been found that the incorporation of optimal CuO nanostructures in PVDF-HFP can increase the output voltage of the PENG by 22 times and is assigned to the increment in the effective dielectric constant of host PVDF-HFP. Further, the nanogenerator exhibits a maximum power of âˆ¼20µW cm-2at 3 MΩ load and can charge a capacitor under continuous bio-mechanical impart. Further, upon slight alteration of the device configuration, the output of the nanocomposite-based nanogenerator can be enhanced under illumination condition. The increment in overall piezopotential through photoexcitation in optically active CuO nanostructures can be assigned to the increment in output voltage. The wavelength dependent output variation reveal the maximum output of the PENG under blue light. Further, under white light illumination, the nanogenerator exhibits a maximum power which is 3 times higher than in dark condition and can charge a capacitor 52 times faster. The development of such superior flexible and optically active nanogenerators are quite promising for futuristic self-powered devices operated under mechanical and solar energies.

Enhanced voltage response in TiO2nanoparticle-embedded piezoelectric nanogenerator.

Poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and its copolymers have piqued a substantial amount of research interest for its use in modern flexible electronics. The piezoelectricß-phase of the polymers can be augmented with the addition of suitable fillers that promoteß-phase nucleation. In this work, we report an improved output voltage response of poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) with the incorporation of 10 wt.% Titanium (IV) oxide nanoparticles into the polymer matrix. The nano-filler was dispersed in the polymer matrix to form nanocomposite films via the solution casting technique. X-ray Diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy measurements were performed to verify the structure and morphology of the films. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy revealed enhancement in theß-phase nucleation from ∼15% to ∼36% with the addition of 10 wt.% titania nanoparticles. Thermogravimetric analysis and Differential Scanning Calorimetry results show improved thermal stability of the nanocomposite film, up to 345 °C, as compared to pristine PVDF-HFP. We also demonstrate a facile method for the fabrication of a piezoelectric nanogenerator withß-PVDF-HFP/TiO2nanocomposite as an active layer. The outputs from the fabricated nanogenerator reached up to 8.89 V through human finger tapping motions, paving way for its potential use in the field of sensors, actuators, and self-sustaining flexible devices.

Sepiolite and ZIF-67 co-modified PAN/PVdF-HFP nanofiber separators for advanced Li-ion batteries.

Electrospun PAN/PVdF-HFP membranes have the potential to be used as separators for Li-ion batteries owing to their good mechanical properties and high chemical stability. However, the application of PAN/PVdF-HFP separators has been hampered by their poor electrochemical performances. In this study, semi-aligned PAN/PVdF-HFP nanofiber separators have been fabricated by an electrospinning technology. Sepiolite and ZIF-67 co-modification was employed to enhance the physical properties of the PAN/PVdF-HFP separators. The test cells with the as-prepared composite separator showed better electrochemical performance than the commercial and raw PAN/PVdF-HFP separators.

Highly Sensitive Textile-Based Capacitive Pressure Sensors Using PVDF-HFP/Ionic Liquid Composite Films.

Textile-based pressure sensors have garnered considerable interest in electronic textiles due to their diverse applications, including human-machine interface and healthcare monitoring systems. We studied a textile-based capacitive pressure sensor array using a poly(vinylidene fluoride)-co-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP)/ionic liquid (IL) composite film. By constructing a capacitor structure with Ag-plated conductive fiber electrodes that are embedded in fabrics, a capacitive pressure sensor showing high sensitivity, good operation stability, and a wide sensing range could be created. By optimizing the PVDF-HFP:IL ratio (6.5:3.5), the fabricated textile pressure sensors showed sensitivity of 9.51 kPa-1 and 0.69 kPa-1 in the pressure ranges of 0-20 kPa and 20-100 kPa, respectively. The pressure-dependent capacitance variation in our device was explained based on the change in the contact-area formed between the multi-filament fiber electrodes and the PVDF-HFP/IL film. To demonstrate the applicability and scalability of the sensor device, a 3 × 3 pressure sensor array was fabricated. Due to its matrix-type array structure and capacitive sensing mechanism, multi-point detection was possible, and the different positions and the weights of the objects could be identified.

Cross-Selectivity Enhancement of Poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene)-Based Sensor Arrays for Detecting Acetone and Ethanol.

Two methods for cross-selectivity enhancement of porous poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP)/carbon black (CB) composite-based resistive sensors are provided. The sensors are tested with acetone and ethanol in the presence of humid air. Cross-selectivity is enhanced using two different methods to modify the basic response of the PVDF-HFP/CB sensing platform. In method I, the adsorption properties of PVDF-HFP/CB are altered by adding a polyethylene oxide (PEO) layer or by treating with infrared (IR). In method II, the effects of the interaction of acetone and ethanol are enhanced by adding diethylene carbonate (DEC) or PEO dispersed in DEC (PEO/DEC) to the film. The results suggest the approaches used in method I alter the composite ability to adsorb acetone and ethanol, while in method II, they alter the transduction characteristics of the composite. Using these approaches, sensor relative response to acetone was increased by 89% compared with the PVDF-HFP/CB untreated film, whereas sensor relative response to ethanol could be decreased by 57% or increased by 197%. Not only do these results demonstrate facile methods for increasing sensitivity of PVDF-HFP/CB film, used in parallel they demonstrate a roadmap for enhancing system cross-selectivity that can be applied to separate units on an array. Fabrication methods, experimental procedures and results are presented and discussed.

Sonophotocatalytic removal of organic dyes in real water environments using reusable BiSI@PVDF-HFP nanocomposite membranes.

Focusing on the uncontrolled discharge of organic dyes, a known threat to human health and aquatic ecosystems, this work employs a dual-functional catalyst approach, by immobilizing a synthesized bismuth sulfur iodide (BiSI) into a poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) polymeric matrix for multifunctional water remediation. The resulting BiSI@PVDF nanocomposite membrane (NCM), with 20 wt% filler content, maintains a highly porous structure without compromising morphology or thermal properties. Demonstrating efficiency in natural pH conditions, the NCM removes nearly all Rhodamine B (RhB) within 1 h, using a combined sonophotocatalytic process. Langmuir and pseudo-second-order models describe the remediation process, achieving a maximum removal capacity (Qmax) of 72.2 mg/g. In addition, the combined sonophotocatalysis achieved a degradation rate ten and five times higher (0.026 min-1) than photocatalysis (0.002 min-1) and sonocatalysis (0.010 min-1). Furthermore, the NCM exhibits notable reusability over five cycles without efficiency losses and efficiencies always higher than 90%, highlighting its potential for real water matrices. The study underscores the suitability of BiSI@PVDF as a dual-functional catalyst for organic dye degradation, showcasing synergistic adsorption, photocatalysis, and sonocatalysis for water remediation.

Quasi-Gel Polymer Electrolyte Interfaced with Electrodes through Solvent-Swollen Poly(ethylene oxide) for High-Performance Lithium/Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are regarded as a superior alternative to traditional liquid electrolytes of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their improved safety features. The practical implementation of SPEs faces challenges, such as low ionic conductivity at room temperature (RT) and inadequate interfacial contact, leading to high interfacial resistance across the electrode and electrolyte interfaces. In this study, we addressed these issues by designing a quasi-gel polymer electrolyte (QGPE), a blend of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP), poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), and succinonitrile (SN), with the desired mechanical strength, ionic conductivity, and interfacial stability through a simple solution casting technique. The QGPE features a thin solvated PEO layer on its surface, which wets the electrode, reducing the interfacial resistance and ensuring a homogeneous Li-ion flux across the interface. The optimized QGPE exhibits a good lithium-ion conductivity of 1.14 × 10-3 S cm-1 with a superior lithium-ion transference number of 0.7 at 25 °C. The Li/QGPE/Li symmetric cell exhibits a highly reversible lithium plating/stripping process for over 1300 h with minimal voltage polarization of ∼20 mV. The Li/QGPE/LiFePO4 full cell demonstrates good rate capability and excellent long-term cycling performance at a 0.1 C rate at 25 °C, maintaining a specific discharge capacity of 148 mAh g-1 over 200 cycles. The effectiveness of QGPE for LIBs is proven using a graphite/QGPE/LiFePO4 4 × 4 cm pouch cell, showcasing outstanding flexibility and tolerance against intentional abuse.

Supramolecular polymer cross-linking gel electrolyte for highly stable quasi-solid-state lithium metal batteries.

Lithium (Li) metal batteries have the advantage of high energy density, but the Li dendrites risk piercing the separator and causing a short circuit in the battery. Replacing the liquid electrolytes with gel electrolytes is considered an effective strategy to solve the issues. Herein, a poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP)-based gel electrolyte, improved with multifunctional supramolecular polymer (MSP), was prepared to enhance the cycling stability and energy density of quasi-solid-state Li metal batteries. The MSP addictive constructs a cross-linked network structure with PVDF-HFP matrix and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) through hydrogen bonding, improving the mechanical strength of the composite gel electrolyte (PH-10%MSP-GE) to against the growth of Li dendrites. Moreover, the pre-lithiated sulfonic acid groups, conductive polyether groups of MSP, and the attraction of TFSI- anions, promote the Li-ion transportation of the composite gel electrolyte. Finally, the Li||Li symmetric cell cycle stably for over 450 h. The Li||LiFePO4 full cell demonstrates a high energy density and excellent cycling stability for over 600 cycles, with a capacity retention rate of up to 98.7%. This work provides valuable insights into the preparation of multifunctional composite gel polymer electrolytes and competitive quasi-solid-state Li metal batteries.

Ternary composites of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) with silver nanowires and titanium dioxide nanoparticles as separator membranes for lithium-ion batteries.

In the realm of polymer composites, there is growing interest in the use of more than one filler for achieving multifunctional properties. In this work, a composite separator membrane has been developed for lithium-ion battery application, by incorporating conductive silver nanowires (AgNWs) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles into a poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) polymer matrix. The composite membranes were manufactured by solvent casting and thermally induced phase separation, with total filler content varying up to 10 wt%. The ternary composites composites present improved mechanical characteristics, ionic conductivity and lithium transfer number compared to the neat polymer matrix. On the other hand, the filler type and content within the composite has little bearing on the morphology, polymer phase, or thermal stability. Once applied as a separator in lithium-ion batteries, the highest discharge capacity value was obtained for the 5 wt% AgNWs/5 wt% TiO2/PVDF-HFP membrane at different C-rates, benefiting from the synergetic effect from both fillers. This work demonstrates that higher battery performance can be achieved for next-generation lithium-ion batteries by using separator membranes based on ternary composites.

Lithium-Rich Porous Aromatic Framework Doped Quasi-Solid Polymer Electrolyte for Lithium Battery with High Cycling Stability.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have revolutionized the energy storage landscape and are the preferred power source for various applications, ranging from portable electronics to electric vehicles. The constant drive and growth in battery research and development aim to enhance their performance, energy density, and safety. Advanced lithium batteries (LIBs) are considered to be the most promising electrochemical storage devices, which can provide high specific energy, volumetric energy density, and power density. However, the trade-off between ionic conductivity and cycling stability is still a major contradiction for SPEs. In this work, a novel hydroxylated PAF-1 was designed and synthesized through post-modification, and the lithium-rich single-ion porous aromatic framework PAF-1-OLi was thereafter prepared by lithiation, achieved with a specific surface area to be 155 m2 g-1 and a lithium content of 2.01 mmol g-1. PAF-1-OLi, lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfony)limine (LiTFSI), and poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) were compounded to obtain PAF-1-OLi/PVDF by solution casting, which had good mechanical, thermodynamic, and electrochemical properties. The ion conductivity of PAF-1-OLi/PVDF infiltrated with plasticizer was 2.93 × 10-4 S cm-1 at 25 °C. The tLi+ was 0.77, which was much higher than that of the traditional dual-ion polymer electrolytes. The electrochemical window of PAF-1-OLi/PVDF can reach 4.9 V. The Li//PAF-1-OLi/PVDF//LiFePO4 battery initial discharge specific capacity was 147 mAh g-1 and reached 134.9 mAh g-1 after 600 cycles with a capacity retention rate of 91.2%, demonstrating its good cycling stability. The anionic part of lithium salt was fixed on the framework of PAF-1 to increase the Li+ transfer number of PAF-1-OLi/PVDF. The lithium-rich PAF-1-OLi and the LiTFSI provided abundant Li+ sources to transfer, while PAF-1-OLi helped to form a continuous Li+ transport channel, effectively promoting the migration of Li+ in the PAF-1-OLi/PVDF and effectively improving the Li+ conductivity. This study afforded a novel polymer electrolyte based on lithium-rich PAF-1-OLi, which has excellent electrochemical performance, providing a new choice for the polymer electrolyte of lithium batteries.

PVDF-HFP-based polymer inclusion membrane functionalized with D2EHPA for the selective extraction of bismuth(III) from sulfate media.

This study is the first application of a PVDF-HFP-based polymer inclusion membrane incorporating the poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) and di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) as the base polymer and extractant for the extraction of bismuth(III), respectively. It is demonstrated that the PIM comprised of 60 wt% PVDF-HFP and 40 wt% D2EHPA is the most effective in the extraction of bismuth(III) from feed solution containing 20 mg L-1 bismuth(III) and 0.2 mol L-1 sulfate adjusted to pH 1.4. The extracted bismuth(III) ions are back-extracted quantitatively to the receiving solution containing 1 mol L-1 sulfuric acid. The stoichiometry experiments reveal that the Bi: D2EHPA ratio in the bismuth(III) extracted complex is 1:6, and D2EHPA is dimer. Moreover, it is shown that the studied PIM has high selectivity in the extraction of bismuth(III) over other interfering ions such as Mo(VI), Cr(III), Al(III), Fe(III), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), and Mn(II). The interference of Fe(III) is also eliminated by masking with fluoride, leading finally to a nearly pure extraction of bismuth(III).

Hybrid Zinc Phthalocyanine/PVDF-HFP System for Reducing Biofouling in Water Desalination: DFT Theoretical and MolDock Investigations.

Fouling and biofouling remain significant challenges in seawater desalination plants. One practical approach to address these issues is to develop anti-biofouling membranes. Therefore, novel hybrid zinc phthalocyanine/polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene (Zn(4-PPOx)4Pc/PVDF-HFP) membranes were prepared by electrospinning to evaluate their properties against biofouling. The hybrid nanofiber membrane was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, and contact angle measurements. The theoretical calculations of PVDF-HFP, Zn(4-PPOx)4Pc), and Zn(4-PPOx)4Pc/PVDF-HFP nanofibers were performed using a hybrid functional RB3LYP and the 6-31 G (d,p) basis set, employing Gaussian 09. DFT calculations illustrated that the calculated physical and electronic parameters ensured the feasibility of the interaction of PVDF-HFP with Zn(4-PPOx)4Pc via a halogen-hydrogen bond, resulting in a highly stable and remarkably reactive structure. Moreover, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) maps were drawn to identify the reactive regions of the Zn(4-PPOx)4Pc and PVDF-HFP/Zn(4-PPOx)4Pc nanofibers. Molecular docking analysis revealed that Zn(4-PPOx)4Pc has highest binding affinity (-8.56 kcal/mol) with protein from S. aureus (1N67) mainly with ten amino acids (ASP405, LYS374, GLU446, ASN406, ALA441, TYR372, LYS371, TYR448, LYS374, and ALA442). These findings highlight the promising potential of Zn(4-PPOx) 4Pc/PVDF-HFP nanocomposite membranes in improving the efficiency of water desalination by reducing biofouling and providing antibacterial properties.

A Binary Ionogel Electrolyte for the Realization of an All Solid-State Electrical Double-Layer Capacitor Performing at Low Temperature.

Over the last years, solid-state electrolytes made of an ionic liquid (IL) confined in a solid (inorganic or polymer) matrix, also known as ionogels, have been proposed to solve the leakage problems occurring at high temperatures in classical electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) with an organic electrolyte, and thereof improve the safety. However, making ionogel-based EDLCs perform with reasonable power at low temperature is still a major challenge due to the high melting point of the confined IL. To overcome these limitations, the present contribution discloses ionogel films prepared in a totally oxygen/moisture-free atmosphere by encapsulating 70 wt % of an equimolar mixture of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate - [EMIm][BF4]0.5[FSI]0.5 - into a poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF-HFP) network. The further called "binary ionogel" films demonstrated a high flexibility and a good ionic conductivity of 5.8 mS cm-1 at 20 °C. Contrary to the ionogels prepared from either [EMIm][FSI] or [EMIm][BF4], displaying melting at Tm=-16 °C and -7 °C, respectively, the crystallization of confined [EMIm][BF4]0.5[FSI]0.5 is quenched in the binary ionogel, which shows only a glass transition at -101 °C. This quenching enables an increased ionicity and ionic diffusion at the interface with the PVdF host network, leading the binary ionogel membrane to display higher ionic conductivity below -20 °C than the parent binary [EMIm][BF4]0.5[FSI]0.5 liquid. Laminate EDLCs were built with a 100 µm thick binary ionogel separator and electrodes made from a hierarchical micro-/mesoporous MgO-templated carbon containing a reasonable proportion of mesopores to enhance the mass transport of ions, especially at low temperature where the ionic diffusion noticeably decreases. The EDLCs operated up to 3.0 V with ideal EDL characteristics from -40 °C to room temperature. Their output specific energy under a discharge power of 1 kW kg-1 is ca. 4 times larger than with a cell implementing the same carbon electrodes together with the binary [EMIm][BF4]0.5[FSI]0.5 liquid. Hence, this binary ionogel electrolyte concept paves the road for developing safe and flexible solid-state energy storage devices operating at subambient temperatures in extreme environments.

Long-Cycling Cellulose-Based Gel Polymer Electrolyte Utilizing Nanohydrotalcite as a Li+ Transport Redistributor.

The hydroxyl groups on the surface of the cellulose-based gel polymer electrolyte lead to poor interfacial compatibility due to side reactions with lithium sheets. In this paper, a novel cellulose-based gel polymer electrolyte was prepared by uniformly coating the surface of a cellulose membrane with a nanohydrotalcite/PVDF-HFP composite using electrospinning technology. This cellulose-based gel polymer electrolyte exhibits good interfacial compatibility and excellent cycling stability (91.7% specific capacity retention after 500 cycles at 0.5C). Theory and experiments have shown that nanohydrotalcite on the surface of cellulose membrane can effectively prevent the contact of hydroxyl groups with lithium sheets to reduce the side reactions. In addition, nanohydrotalcite can also act as a Li+ transport redistributor to facilitate the uniform deposition of Li+ and reduce the formation of lithium dendrites to extend the cycle life.

Strengthening Multi-Factor Authentication Through Physically Unclonable Functions in PVDF-HFP-Phase-Dependent a-IGZO Thin-Film Transistors.

For enhanced security in hardware-based security devices, it is essential to extract various independent characteristics from a single device to generate multiple keys based on specific values. Additionally, the secure destruction of authentication information is crucial for the integrity of the data. Doped amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (a-IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) using poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) induce a dipole doping effect through a phase-transition process, creating physically unclonable function (PUF) devices for secure user information protection. The PUF security key, generated at VGS = 20 V in a 20 × 10 grid, demonstrates uniformity of 42% and inter-Hamming distance (inter-HD) of 49.79% in the ß-phase of PVDF-HFP. However, in the γ-phase, the uniformity drops to 22.5%, and inter-HD decreases to 35.74%, indicating potential security key destruction during the phase transition. To enhance security, a multi-factor authentication (MFA) system is integrated, utilizing five security keys extracted from various TFT parameters. The security keys from turn-on voltage (VON), VGS = 20 V, VGS = 30 V, mobility, and threshold voltage (Vth) exhibit near-ideal uniformities and inter-HDs, with the highest values of 58% and 51.68%, respectively. The dual security system, combining phase transition and MFA, establishes a robust protection mechanism for privacy-sensitive user information.

Flexible Composite Electrolyte Membranes with Fast Ion Transport Channels for Solid-State Lithium Batteries.

Numerous endeavors have been dedicated to the development of composite polymer electrolyte (CPE) membranes for all-solid-state batteries (SSBs). However, insufficient ionic conductivity and mechanical properties still pose great challenges in practical applications. In this study, a flexible composite electrolyte membrane (FCPE) with fast ion transport channels was prepared using a phase conversion process combined with in situ polymerization. The polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoro propylene (PVDF-HFP) polymer matrix incorporated with lithium lanthanum zirconate (LLZTO) formed a 3D net-like structure, and the in situ polymerized polyvinyl ethylene carbonate (PVEC) enhanced the interface connection. This 3D network, with multiple rapid pathways for Li+ that effectively control Li+ flux, led to uniform lithium deposition. Moreover, the symmetrical lithium cells that used FCPE exhibited high stability after 1200 h of cycling at 0.1 mA cm-2. Specifically, all-solid-state lithium batteries coupled with LiFePO4 cathodes can stably cycle for over 100 cycles at room temperature with high Coulombic efficiencies. Furthermore, after 100 cycles, the infrared spectrum shows that the structure of FCPE remains stable. This work demonstrates a novel insight for designing a flexible composite electrolyte for highly safe SSBs.