A new Na[(FSO2)(n-C4F9SO2)N]-based polymer electrolyte for solid-state sodium batteries

To improve the safety of sodium (Na) batteries, we first report a new solid polymer electrolyte (SPE), composed of sodium (fluorosulfonyl)(n-nonafluorobutanesulfonyl) imide (Na[(FSO2)(n-C4F9SO2)N], NaFNFSI) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), which is prepared by a facile solution-casting method. The NaFNFSI/PEO (EO/Na+ = 15) blended polymer electrolyte exhibits a relatively high ionic conductivity of 3.36 x 10(-4) S cm(-1) at 80 degrees C, sufficient thermal stability (> 300 degrees C) and anodic electrochemical stability (approximate to 4.87 V vs. Na+/Na) for application in solid-state Na batteries. Most importantly, the NaFNFSI-based SPE can not only deliver excellent chemical and electrochemical stability with Na metal, but can also display good cycling and current-rate performances for the Na vertical bar SPE vertical bar NaCu1/9Ni2/9Fe1/3Mn1/3O2 cell. All of these outstanding properties would make the NaFNFSI-based SPE promising as a candidate for application in solid-state Na batteries.