biostudies-literatureXie BChinese Academy of SciencesNatural Science Foundation of Hebei ProvinceNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaBeijing Technology and Business University14036-14046https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8697685biostudies-literatureUnknown11(23)Lithium-ion batteries using either liquid electrolytes or solid electrolytes have been extensively studied in recent years, but both of these encounter safety risks such as flammability of liquid electrolytes and uncontrolled dendrite growth. In this study, a sandwich gel polymer electrolyte (SGPE) with a thermal shutdown function was developed to resolve the safety issues. By adjustment of surface pore size of the SGPE, lithium dendrite growth is suppressed. Due to the sandwich structure design, the SGPE can effectively respond to an overheating environment, regulate lithium ion transport and inhibit the penetration of lithium dendrite, demonstrating a remarkably high safety of the batteries, especially at high temperature or under thermal runaway circumstances. In addition, the LiFePO<suRSC advancesSelf-shutdown function induced by sandwich-like gel polymer electrolytes for high safety lithium metal batteries.PMC8697685CXYJJ20-MS-052189076051922099E2020103052Liu LChen YChen SXie BfalseSelf-shutdown function induced by sandwich-like gel polymer electrolytes for high safety lithium metal batteries.Lithium-ion batteries using either liquid electrolytes or solid electrolytes have been extensively studied in recent years, but both of these encounter safety risks such as flammability of liquid electrolytes and uncontrolled dendrite growth. In this study, a sandwich gel polymer electrolyte (SGPE) with a thermal shutdown function was developed to resolve the safety issues. By adjustment of surface pore size of the SGPE, lithium dendrite growth is suppressed. Due to the sandwich structure design, the SGPE can effectively respond to an overheating environment, regulate lithium ion transport and inhibit the penetration of lithium dendrite, demonstrating a remarkably high safety of the batteries, especially at high temperature or under thermal runaway circumstances. In addition, the LiFePO<su2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Apr2025-04-04T09:00:20.98Z2025-04-04T09:00:20.98ZS-EPMC86976853542390410.1039/d1ra02641k