{"database":"biostudies-literature","file_versions":[],"scores":null,"additional":{"submitter":["Gao H"],"funding":["Faraday Institution","The Royal Thai Government DPST Scholarship"],"pagination":["e04206"],"full_dataset_link":["https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12407366"],"repository":["biostudies-literature"],"omics_type":["Unknown"],"volume":["12(32)"],"pubmed_abstract":["Enabling recycling and improving performance are key challenges for next-generation electrolytes for rechargeable batteries. Here, an equilibrium polymerization: trimethylene carbonate (TMC) ring-opening polymerization, in the presence of lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate salt, is utilized to form an electrolyte in situ during coin cell fabrication for lithium batteries. This process creates a semi-solid poly(trimethylene carbonate) electrolyte with high ambient ionic conductivity (0.52 mS cm<sup>-1</sup>), thermal stability (T<sub>d, 5%</sub> = 160 °C), and oxidative stability up to 4.7 V. Using this electrolyte with commercial lithium iron phosphate cathodes, results in 97% capacity retention after 350 cycles at 2C, achieving theoretical capacities of 170 mAh g<sup>-1</sup> at 0.1C. The cells retain excellent performance at high current densities (86 mAh g<sup>-1</sup> at 4C). Post-use, the polymer can be separated from the salt and selectively recycled to pure starting monomer (TMC) through a solid-state chemical recycling process. The recycled monomer, when repolymerized to reform the polycarbonate electrolyte, yields cells with performance identical to the original. The exploitation of polymerization-depolymerization equilibria offers a useful strategy for enhancing battery performance, ensuring effective material recycling, and advancing a circular economy."],"journal":["Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)"],"pubmed_title":["Recyclable Li-Metal Battery Electrolytes via In Situ Cyclic Carbonate Polymerization."],"pmcid":["PMC12407366"],"funding_grant_id":["FIRG056","FIRG026"],"pubmed_authors":["Gregory GL","Riesgo-Gonzalez V","Williams CK","Gao H","Zhang S","Bruce PG","Hu B","Wang L","Spencer-Jolly D","Yiamsawat K","Runge JR","Gao X","McGuire TM","Rees GJ"],"additional_accession":[]},"is_claimable":false,"name":"Recyclable Li-Metal Battery Electrolytes via In Situ Cyclic Carbonate Polymerization.","description":"Enabling recycling and improving performance are key challenges for next-generation electrolytes for rechargeable batteries. Here, an equilibrium polymerization: trimethylene carbonate (TMC) ring-opening polymerization, in the presence of lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate salt, is utilized to form an electrolyte in situ during coin cell fabrication for lithium batteries. This process creates a semi-solid poly(trimethylene carbonate) electrolyte with high ambient ionic conductivity (0.52 mS cm<sup>-1</sup>), thermal stability (T<sub>d, 5%</sub> = 160 °C), and oxidative stability up to 4.7 V. Using this electrolyte with commercial lithium iron phosphate cathodes, results in 97% capacity retention after 350 cycles at 2C, achieving theoretical capacities of 170 mAh g<sup>-1</sup> at 0.1C. The cells retain excellent performance at high current densities (86 mAh g<sup>-1</sup> at 4C). Post-use, the polymer can be separated from the salt and selectively recycled to pure starting monomer (TMC) through a solid-state chemical recycling process. The recycled monomer, when repolymerized to reform the polycarbonate electrolyte, yields cells with performance identical to the original. The exploitation of polymerization-depolymerization equilibria offers a useful strategy for enhancing battery performance, ensuring effective material recycling, and advancing a circular economy.","dates":{"release":"2025-01-01T00:00:00Z","publication":"2025 Aug","modification":"2026-05-29T21:39:32.034Z","creation":"2026-04-08T06:04:06.195Z"},"accession":"S-EPMC12407366","cross_references":{"pubmed":["40490987"],"doi":["10.1002/advs.202504206"]}}