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Materials
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Polymer Electrolytes: Fundamentals, Approaches and Applications
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Polymer Electrolytes: Fundamentals, Approaches and Applications

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymeric Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2025 | Viewed by 377

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yunsong Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, China
Interests: AI for energy materials; multi-scale simulations; Li-ion battery; electrocatalysis
Dr. Yuxiao Lin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, China
Interests: density functional theory; molecular dynamics; Li-ion battery; Li-S battery; electrocatalysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to compile cutting-edge research and comprehensive reviews that explore the multifaceted aspects of polymer electrolytes. It will delve into the fundamental principles governing the behavior of these materials, including ion transport mechanisms, phase behavior, and interfacial phenomena. This Special Issue seeks contributions that highlight innovative approaches in material design, synthesis, and characterization techniques that enhance the performance and stability of polymer electrolytes. Moreover, it will emphasize applications across diverse fields such as batteries, fuel cells, supercapacitors, and sensors, where polymer electrolytes play a crucial role in advancing energy storage and conversion technologies. We welcome studies on both solid and gel polymer electrolytes, with a focus on emerging trends like biodegradable materials, self-healing polymers, and nanocomposites. The goal is to bridge the gap between theoretical understanding and practical implementation, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and accelerating the development of next-generation devices powered by efficient and sustainable polymer electrolyte systems.

Dr. Yunsong Li
Dr. Yuxiao Lin
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • polymer electrolytes
  • multi-scale simulations
  • characterization
  • batteries
  • fuel cells
  • supercapacitors

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 3222 KiB  
Article
Anisotropic Conductivity and Mechanical Strength Enhancements in Gel Polymer Electrolyte Films by Hot Pressing
by Zhifan Fang, Hao Zhang and Shuangjun Chen
Materials 2025, 18(8), 1751; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18081751 - 11 Apr 2025
Viewed by 199
Abstract
Gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) with a polymer matrix swollen in liquid electrolytes offers several advantages over conventional liquid electrolytes, including no leakage, lightweight properties, and high reliability. While poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP)-based GPEs show promise for lithium-ion batteries, their practical application is hindered by [...] Read more.
Gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) with a polymer matrix swollen in liquid electrolytes offers several advantages over conventional liquid electrolytes, including no leakage, lightweight properties, and high reliability. While poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP)-based GPEs show promise for lithium-ion batteries, their practical application is hindered by the intrinsic trade-off between ionic conductivity and mechanical robustness in conventional PVDF systems. Typical strategies relying on excessive plasticizers (e.g., ionic liquids) compromise mechanical integrity. Here, we propose a novel hot-pressing-induced recrystallization strategy to synergistically enhance both anisotropic ionic conductivity and puncture strength in PVDF-based GPE films. By blending PVDF with controlled amounts of 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([HMIM]Cl), followed by solution casting and hot pressing, we achieve microstructural reorganization that dramatically improves through-thickness ion transport and mechanical performance. Crucially, hot-pressed PVDF with only 25 wt% [HMIM]Cl exhibits a 12.5-fold increase in ionic conductivity (reaching 4.7 × 10−4 S/cm) compared to its solution-cast counterparts. Remarkably, this formulation surpasses the conductivity of PVDF-HFP composites with a higher [HMIM]Cl content (35 wt%, 1.7 × 10−4 S/cm), demonstrating performance optimization of anisotropic conductivity. What is more, the mechanical strength of the piercing strength perpendicular to the GPE film after hot pressing increased by 42% compared to the solution-cast film. This work establishes a scalable processing route to break the conductivity–strength dichotomy in GPEs, offering critical insights for designing high-performance polymer electrolytes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Electrolytes: Fundamentals, Approaches and Applications)
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