Preparation and Performances of Zeolite-based Separator for Lithium-ion Batteries

To improve the poor thermal stability and electrolyte wettability of polyolefin-based separators, a high performance zeolite-based separator was prepared by a sintering process using zeolite particles, silica sol and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid. The results show that compared with PE separator, the as-prepared zeolite separator exhibits well-developed microstructure superior thermal resistance and excellent liquid electrolyte wettability; the present separator has almost no thermal shrinkage after the heat treatment at 160℃ for 0.5h, while PE separator shows 100% thermal shrinkage under the same condition. Moreover, the electrolyte contact angle of zeolite separator is about 0±, while that of PE separator reaches 35°. Based on the above advantages, the zeolite separator shows better electrochemical performances, such as the discharge C-rate capability and cycling performance, as compared to the commercialized PE separator