Solid polymer electrolytes with LiNO3 as only lithium salt for highly stable lithium metal batteries

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) have been gotten attention owing to high energy density. In here, the production of PEO-xLiNO3 solid electrolyte with LiNO3 as the sole lithium salt is cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and convenient. The interaction of the electrolyte and the electrode can form a uniform and dense solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer packing L3iN and LiNxOy groups, which will effectively control lithium deposition and inhibit dendrite growth. The electrolyte exhibits outstanding mechanical properties, remarkable room temperature ionic conductivity, and the ability to suppress lithium dendrite growth. When applied in symmetric Li//Li batteries, the electrolyte shows excellent cycling stability with over 5000 h of cycling at a current density of 0.1 mA cm−2. For NCM622//Li batteries after full charge, it exhibits good cycling stability with a capacity retention rate is as high as 88 % after 300 cycles. Hence, the proposed electrolyte not only enhances safety performance but also improves electrochemical properties, making it highly promising for large-scale practical applications.