A Brief Review of the Role of Polymers in Fifferent Lithium-Ion Conducting Electrolytes for LIBs

Polymers have played a vital role in developing next-generation energy storage devices. In the progress of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), polymers have been widely used in the preparation of electrolytes and electrode binders, in both cases, due to their unique intrinsic properties, such as high thermal, mechanical, and electrochemical resistance. However, the main limitation of this type of material is its poor ionic conductivity at room temperature, which depends on its structural properties and preparation techniques. In this review, the fundamental properties and ion transport mechanisms characteristic of different types of ion-conducting polymers, such as solvent-free polymer electrolytes (SPE), gel polymer electrolytes (GPE), and composite polymer electrolytes (CPE), are reported. A current overview of lithium-ion-based battery systems, which can be improved using ion-conducting polymers, is also presented.