Three-Dimensional Bicontinuous Nanocomposite from a Self-Assembled Block Copolymer for a High-Capacity All-Solid-State Lithium Battery Cathode

Safe secondary batteries with high energy densities and high power densities will be necessary if pure-electric and hybrid vehicles are to become more widespread, and all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) are among the most promising options. Much research has focused on the development of cathode materials with solid Li electrolytes, including composites fabricated from calcined microparticles, laser-deposited film systems, and materials with three-dimensional structures. However, because utilization of a high percentage of the active cathode material requires an electrode with a high electrolyte content, achieving high active-material-utilization rates in electrodes with high active-material contents (and thus relatively low electrolyte contents) has been challenging. Herein, we describe the self-assembled block copolymer-templated synthesis of a three-dimensional bicontinuous nanocomposite electrode material consisting of LiCoO2 as the active cathode material and Li7La3Zr2O12 as the solid Li ele...