"Tree-Trunk" Design for Flexible Quasi-Solid-State Electrolytes with Hierarchical Ion-Channels Enabling Ultralong-Life Lithium-Metal Batteries

The construction of robust (quasi)-solid-state electrolyte (SSE) for flexible lithium-metal batteries is desirable but extremely challenging. Herein, a novel, flexible, and robust quasi-solid-state electrolyte (QSSE) with a "tree-trunk" design is reported for ultralong-life lithium-metal batteries (LMBs). An in-situ-grown metal-organic framework (MOF) layer covers the cellulose-based framework to form hierarchical ion-channels, enabling rapid ionic transfer kinetics and excellent durability. A conductivity of 1.36 × 10^-3 S cm^-1 , a transference number of 0.72, an electrochemical window of 5.26 V, and a good rate performance are achieved. The flexible LMBs fabricated with as-designed QSSEs deliver areal capacity of up to 3.1 mAh cm^-2 at the initial cycle with high mass loading of 14.8 mg cm^-2 in Li-NCM811 cells and can retain ≈80% capacity retention after 300 cycles. An ultralong-life of 3000 cycles (6000 h) is also achieved in Li-LiFePO₄ cells. This work presents a promising route in constructing a flexible QSSE toward ultralong-life LMBs, and also provides a design rationale for material and structure development in the area of energy storage and conversion.