Open Access

ARTICLE

Effect of Drying Methods on the Morphology and Electrochemical Properties of Cellulose Gel Polymer Electrolytes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Jiling Song¹, Hua Wang^2,*, Jianbing Guo¹, Minghua Lin², Bin Zheng^2,*, Jiqiang Wu^3,*

1 National Engineering Research Center for Compounding and Modification of Polymer Materials, Guiyang, 550014, China
2 Kangmingyuan (Guizhou) Technology Development Co., Ltd., Anshun, 561100, China
3 Guizhou Jarwin Technology Co., Ltd., Guiyang, 550000, China

* Corresponding Authors: Hua Wang. Email: ; Bin Zheng. Email: ; Jiqiang Wu. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Synthesis, Processing and Mechanical Properties of Hydrogel-Based Materials)

Journal of Polymer Materials 2025, 42(4), 1143-1157. https://doi.org/10.32604/jpm.2025.073414

Received 17 September 2025; Accepted 14 November 2025; Issue published 26 December 2025

Abstract

The pursuit of safer energy storage systems is driving the development of advanced electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries. Traditional liquid electrolytes pose flammability risks, while solid-state alternatives often suffer from low ionic conductivity. Gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) emerge as a promising compromise, combining the safety of solids with the ionic conductivity of liquids. Cellulose, an abundant and eco-friendly polymer, presents an ideal base material for sustainable GPEs due to its biocompatibility and mechanical strength. This study systematically investigates how drying methods affect cellulose-based GPEs. Cellulose hydrogels were synthesized through dissolution-crosslinking and processed using vacuum drying (VD), supercritical drying (SCD), and freeze-drying (FD). VD and SCD produced dense membranes with excellent mechanical strength (7.2 MPa) but limited electrolyte uptake (30%–40%). In contrast, FD created a highly porous structure (21.13% porosity) with remarkable electrolyte absorption (638%), leading to superior ionic conductivity (1.22 mS·cm⁻¹) and lithium-ion transference number (0.28). However, this came at the cost of increased interfacial impedance and poor rate capability, resulting in 81.24% capacity retention after 100 cycles. These findings illuminate the critical balance between electrochemical performance and mechanical properties in cellulose GPEs, providing valuable insights for designing sustainable electrolytes for flexible electronics and electric vehicles.

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