Abstract
Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are critical for advancing the safety and performance of solid-state batteries (SSBs). However, challenges such as low ionic conductivity, limited mechanical strength, and narrow electrochemical stability windows hinder their widespread adoption. This study investigates the role of lithium salt formulation, specifically lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), and a binary mixture of the two, on the molecular structure and charge density of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP)-based SPEs. Through comprehensive characterization, we demonstrate that the choice of lithium salt profoundly affects the crystallinity, dehydrofluorination degree, and ionic conductivity of SPEs. Notably, the binary salt mixture provides a balanced improvement in ionic conductivity (4.93 × 10(-4) S/cm at 20°C) and mechanical strength (127 MPa), alongside a broad electrochemical stability window. These findings suggest that strategic lithium salt formulation can significantly enhance the overall performance of SPEs, paving the way for their effective use in next-generation SSBs.