Multifunctional Free-Standing Gel Polymer Electrolyte with Carbon Nanofiber Interlayers for High-Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Free-standing trimethylolpropane ethoxylate triacrylate gel polymer electrolyte is synthesized by a chemical cross-linking process and used as an electrolyte and separator membrane in lithium-sulfur batteries. The cross linked gel polymer electrolyte also exhibited a stable geometric size retention of 95 % at the high temperature of 130 °C. The as-prepared gel polymer electrolyte membrane with carbon nanofibers interlayer can effectively prevent polysulfide dissolution and shuttle effect, leading to significantly enhanced electrochemical properties, including high capacity and cycling stability, with an enhanced specific capacity of 790 mA h g-1 after 100 cycles.