High-energy lithium metal batteries (LMBs) are expected to play important roles in the next-generation energy storage systems. However, the uncontrolled Li dendrite growth in liquid electrolytes still impedes LMBs from authentic commercialization. Upgrading the traditional electrolyte system from liquid to solid and quasi-solid has therefore become a key issue for prospective LMBs. From this premise, it is particularly urgent to exploit facile strategies to accomplish this goal. We report that commercialized liquid electrolyte can be easily converted into a novel quasi-solid gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) via a simple and efficient in situ gelation strategy, which, in essence, is to use LiPF₆ to induce the cationic polymerization of the ether-based 1,3-dioxolane and 1,2-dimethoxyethane liquid electrolyte under ambient temperature. The newly developed GPE exhibits elevated protective effects on Li anodes and has universality for diversified cathodes including but not restricted to sulfur, olivine-type LiFePO₄, and layered LiNi_0.6Co_0.2Mn_0.2O₂, revealing tremendous potential in promoting the large-scale application of future LMBs.

中文翻译：

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通过原位凝胶化技术升级传统液体电解质，以用于未来的锂金属电池。

高能锂金属电池（LMB）有望在下一代储能系统中发挥重要作用。但是，液体电解质中不受控制的Li枝晶生长仍然阻碍LMB的真正商业化。因此，将传统的电解质系统从液体升级为固体和准固体已成为潜在LMB的关键问题。从这个前提出发，迫切需要利用灵活的策略来实现这一目标。我们报告说，通过简单有效的原位凝胶化策略，可以将商业化的液体电解质轻松转换为新型准固体凝胶聚合物电解质（GPE），本质上就是使用LiPF ₆在室温下引发基于醚的1，3-二氧戊环和1，2-二甲氧基乙烷液体电解质的阳离子聚合。新开发的GPE对Li阳极具有增强的保护作用，并且对包括但不限于硫，橄榄石型LiFePO ₄和层状LiNi _0.6 Co _0.2 Mn _0.2 O _2的多种阴极具有普遍性，显示出促进大规模生产的巨大潜力。未来LMB的应用。