Ionic liquid/poly(ionic liquid)-based electrolytes for lithium batteries

The growing demand for portable electronic devices, electric vehicles, and large-scale advanced energy storage has aroused increasing interest in the development of high energy density lithium batteries. The electrolyte is an important component of lithium batteries and is an essential part of performance and safety improvements. Commercially available electrolytes mainly consist of lithium salts and organic carbonate solvents that are prone to decomposition due to their narrow electrochemical windows and tend to react with lithium metal anodes forming an unstable solid electrode/electrolyte interface (SEI). In particular, the flammability of organic solvents raises concerns about battery safety. Ionic liquid/poly(ionic liquid) (IL/PIL)-based electrolytes enable batteries with good safety, high energy/power density and long-term stability. This review focuses on the applications of IL/PIL-based liquid, quasi-solid, and solid electrolytes and electrolyte additives in lithium batteries. The perspectives and challenges of IL/PIL electrolytes in the field of lithium batteries are also proposed.