Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry

Guchok, Olga; Ardel, Gilat; Keidar, Tommer D.; Nakar, Hadar; Ragones, Heftsi; Kaplan, Dima; Zheng, Allen; Greenbaum, Steven; Lounev, Ivan; Greenbaum, Anna; Feldman, Yuri; Golodnitsky, Diana

doi: 10.1007/s10008-025-06323-zpmid: N/A

Fast and easily scalable solvent-free extrusion of polymer electrolytes would represent significant progress in the development of environmentally friendly solid alkali-ion and alkali-metal batteries. In this study, we compare cast and extruded solid polymer electrolytes composed of lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt of varying content dissolved in host matrix of polyurethane and polyethylene oxide. The electrolytes were characterized by means of differential scanning calorimetry, infrared spectroscopy, AC impedance, broad-band spectroscopy, and one-dimensional 7Li and 19F nuclear magnetic resonance. Analysis of the FTIR spectra showed that both polymers can coordinate lithium cations by ethylene oxide (EO) and amine (NH) electron donating groups. The interactions between Li+ and each polymer affect phase transition behavior, conductivity, and ion self-diffusion coefficients. Contrary to our expectations, it was found that unidirectional annealing, which was assumed to be induced by the extrusion process, does not alter out-of-plane ionic conductivity. Moreover, the bulk conductivity of extruded blended polymer electrolyte with 1:15 Li:EO ratio is more than twice that of its cast counterpart over the entire temperature range studied.

Xin, Yong; Li, Sipu; Li, Chen; Huang, Fengyu; Li, Ting; Tang, Tao; Xia, Xinhui; Song, Ming; Zhang, Yongqi

doi: 10.1007/s10008-025-06284-3pmid: N/A

The design and preparation of low-cost, efficient, and stable electrocatalysts are essential for the successful application of electrochemistry in new energy technologies. The improvement of electrocatalyst performance fundamentally is primarily influenced by synthesis and modification methods. Among the various reported methods, plasma technology has gained increasing attention due to its mild experimental conditions and flexible preparation processes. Different types of plasma sources, including gas and non-gas sources, have been employed for material synthesis and modification through deposition, conversion, etching, and doping. These applications have played a crucial role in the expansion and optimization of the electrocatalyst field. This review elucidates the fundamental principles and characteristics of plasma technology, aiming to emphasize applications of gas source and non-gas source plasma in the preparation of electrocatalytic materials, including material synthesis and material modification. Furthermore, we analyze the advantages of plasma technology in the design and preparation of electrocatalysts and summarize the challenges and prospects of plasma technology in energy materials to provide insights for developing efficient electrocatalysts.

Assa, T.; Shlomo, H.; Ardel, G.; Freedman, K.; Gelman, D.; Golodnitsky, D.; Peled, E.

doi: 10.1007/s10008-025-06296-zpmid: N/A

3D printing is being progressively applied in the fabrication of high-energy–density and high-specific-power batteries of various geometries and sizes. Inkjet drop-on-demand (DoD) is a technology that utilizes a printing head that dispenses small droplets by an electronically activated pressurized piston. This allows 3D printing of very thin layers and at a high resolution, while also reducing the usually strict dependency on ink viscosity, meaning a wide array of formulations can be 3D printed with ease. In this work, we present for the first time a 3D-printed Li-ion battery produced exclusively by the DoD method in a layer-by-layer sequence. We used SEM and EDS to demonstrate that each component in the stack (the cathode, the separator, and the anode) possesses its functional bulk and interfacial properties, thus avoiding short circuits and enabling standard cycling operation.