A Gel–Polymer Sn–C/LiMn_0.5Fe_0.5PO₄ Battery Using a Fluorine-Free Salt

Safety and environmental issues, because of the contemporary use of common liquid electrolytes, fluorinated salts, and LiCoO2-based cathodes in commercial Li-ion batteries, might be efficiently mitigated by employing alternative gel-polymer battery configurations and new electrode materials. Herein we study a lithium-ion polymer cell formed by combining a LiMn0.5Fe0.5PO4 olivine cathode, prepared by simple solvothermal pathway, a nanostructured Sn-C anode, and a LiBOB-containing PVdF-based gel electrolyte. The polymer electrolyte, here analyzed in terms of electrochemical stability by impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and voltammetry, reveals full compatibility for cell application. The LiBOB electrolyte salt and the electrochemically delithiaded Mn0.5Fe0.5PO4 have a higher thermal stability compared to conventional LiPF6 and Li0.5CoO2, as confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and by galvanostatic cycling at high temperature. LiMn0.5Fe0.5PO4 and Sn-C, showing in lithium half-cell a capacity of about 120 and 350 mAh g(-1), respectively, within the gelled electrolyte configuration are combined in a full Li-ion polymer battery delivering a stable capacity of about 110 mAh g(-1), with working voltage ranging from 2.8 to 3.6 V.