Study on the applications of mussel-inspired adhesive polymer materials for enhancing the performance of lithium secondary batteries

Abstract

For two decades, lithium secondary batteries have been a driving force of remarkable growth of mobile consumer electronic markets, including mobile phones, lap-top computers, MP3 players, portable multimedia players, etc. Recently, with the concern for environmental pollution and depletion of petroleum fuels, we are looking forward new market place represented by electric vehicles (EVs). This new application needs much large-scaled batteries with high power and energy densities compared to existing lithium secondary batteries optimized for small mobile devices. This implies that current state-of-the-art lithium secondary batteries are not proper for the use, and thus new battery system with different chemistry should be developed. On the other hand, living organisms have developed extraordinary materials properties as a result of years of evolution that have delivered unpredictable roads for technological applications. Amongst a myriad of such materials, mussels show exceptionally strong holdfast on wet surfaces, and the adhesion remains even after fierce wave action. Catechol in the mussel adhesives plays an important role in wet-resistant adhesion and thereby catechol-containing small molecules and polymers have been used in a variety of nano- and biotechnology applications. Interestingly enough, in this investigation, we found a simple and efficient method inspired by this mussel’s extraordinary adhesion abilities onto virtually all types of surface in order to 1) modify commercial bare polyethylene separators for enhanced power capabilities and 2) materialize promising anode materials having high energy densities such as lithium metal and silicon. To the best of my knowledge, this investigation is the first promising demonstration of biological adhesion for energy storage application. First of all, we demonstrated the development of mussel-inspired polydopamine-treated polyethylene (PE) separators for high power lithium secondary batteries. By a simpl...