Enhancing interfacial Li+ transport and dielectric properties in poly(ethylene oxide)-based all-solid electrolytes via inactive g-C3N4 nanosheets filler incorporation

The advancement of all-solid-state Li metal batteries (ASSLMBs) faces a major challenge in the growth of lithium dendrites on the anode-electrolyte interface. In this study, we propose a dual-filler approach using poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) that combine Li1.4Al0.4Ti1.6(PO4)3 (LATP) ion-conductive particles with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets. Analysis through second harmonic resonance enhanced electrostatic force microscopy and critical current density (CCD) tests reveal that the g-C3N4 additives form nano-capacitors at the SPE-lithium interface, effectively reducing sudden changes in current densities. The distribution of relaxation time constant (DRT) measurements confirms that the g-C3N4 filler suppresses uncontrolled Li dendrite growth, effectively mitigating battery aging caused by anode interfacial degradation. Furthermore, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis indicates that the nitrogen-containing organic groups in g-C3N4 are reduced to form a stable interfacial layer with lithium metal. As a result of these enhancements, the electrolyte demonstrates remarkable interfacial stability in Li/Li symmetrical cells at 0.65 mA/cm2 and delivers promising performance in assembled Li-LiFePO4 batteries, achieving a reversible capacity of 121.6 mAh/g at 1 C after 200 cycles. These findings highlight the potential of dual-filler PEO-based SPEs for promoting interfacial lithium-ion transport in all-solid-state Li metal batteries.