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Interfacial engineering of polyolefin separators via caffeic acid-titanium coating for high-efficiency lithium dendrite suppression.

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Title: Interfacial engineering of polyolefin separators via caffeic acid-titanium coating for high-efficiency lithium dendrite suppression.
Authors: Chen, Zi-Yin1,2 (AUTHOR), Luo, Zhen1,2 (AUTHOR) zhenluo@fjirsm.ac.cn, Gong, Cui-Ran2 (AUTHOR), Zheng, Yang-Qing2 (AUTHOR), Xu, Ying2,3 (AUTHOR)
Source: Chemical Engineering Journal. Mar2026, Vol. 532, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Surface coatings, Nanopores, Polymeric membranes, Lithium cells, Surfaces (Technology), Ionic conductivity
Abstract: The limited lithium-ion transference number (t Li+) and uneven electric-field distribution exacerbate concentration polarization during the operation of Lithium-metal batteries (LMBs). This elevates cell overpotential and induces irregular lithium deposition, ultimately triggering hazardous dendrite formation. To mitigate this risk, an interface-engineered separator is fabricated via dip-coating a caffeic acid-titanium (CA-Ti) organic-inorganic hybrid onto commercial polyolefin membranes. The coating is of thickness of only about 500 nm, containing nanopores and radicals, and adheres well to the substrate separator. The nanopores are approximately 3 nm in size, and their walls are composed of caffeic acid groups and tiny nanoparticles of titanium oxide species. The radicals and polar groups within CA-Ti induce electron redistribution, which may facilitate faster and more uniform lithium-ion transport through the separator. Consequently, the modified separator achieves enhanced ionic conductivity (from 1.46 to 1.67 mS cm−1) and t Li+ (from 0.43 to 0.65). Cell tests demonstrate that the modified separator significantly improves dendrite suppression and cycling stability in both carbonate-based and ether-based electrolytes. Compared to commercial polypropylene separators, LiFePO 4 ||Li cells with modified separators retain 70.3% versus 44.9% (ester-based) and 89.6% versus 52.1% (ether-based) capacity after 400 cycles at 1.7 mA cm−2. Moreover, similar efficacy is observed with caffeic acid‑zirconium hybrid (CA-Zr) coatings. This work proposes a unique and practical strategy for regulating the interface of traditional separators by use of CA-Ti or CA-Zr coatings, thereby enabling high-efficiency dendrite suppression in LMBs. • A functional separator (CA-Ti@PP) with an ultrathin (∼500 nm) coating layer. • The CA-Ti coating contains nanopores and radicals. • CA-Ti@PP enables efficient Li-ion transport and homogenized current density. • CA-Ti@PP suppresses Li dendrites and improves cycle stability in Li-metal batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Chemical Engineering Journal is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
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DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 192258515
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PubTypeId: academicJournal
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  Data: Interfacial engineering of polyolefin separators via caffeic acid-titanium coating for high-efficiency lithium dendrite suppression.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chen%2C+Zi-Yin%22">Chen, Zi-Yin</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Luo%2C+Zhen%22">Luo, Zhen</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> zhenluo@fjirsm.ac.cn</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gong%2C+Cui-Ran%22">Gong, Cui-Ran</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zheng%2C+Yang-Qing%22">Zheng, Yang-Qing</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xu%2C+Ying%22">Xu, Ying</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Chemical+Engineering+Journal%22">Chemical Engineering Journal</searchLink>. Mar2026, Vol. 532, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: The limited lithium-ion transference number (t Li+) and uneven electric-field distribution exacerbate concentration polarization during the operation of Lithium-metal batteries (LMBs). This elevates cell overpotential and induces irregular lithium deposition, ultimately triggering hazardous dendrite formation. To mitigate this risk, an interface-engineered separator is fabricated via dip-coating a caffeic acid-titanium (CA-Ti) organic-inorganic hybrid onto commercial polyolefin membranes. The coating is of thickness of only about 500 nm, containing nanopores and radicals, and adheres well to the substrate separator. The nanopores are approximately 3 nm in size, and their walls are composed of caffeic acid groups and tiny nanoparticles of titanium oxide species. The radicals and polar groups within CA-Ti induce electron redistribution, which may facilitate faster and more uniform lithium-ion transport through the separator. Consequently, the modified separator achieves enhanced ionic conductivity (from 1.46 to 1.67 mS cm−1) and t Li+ (from 0.43 to 0.65). Cell tests demonstrate that the modified separator significantly improves dendrite suppression and cycling stability in both carbonate-based and ether-based electrolytes. Compared to commercial polypropylene separators, LiFePO 4 ||Li cells with modified separators retain 70.3% versus 44.9% (ester-based) and 89.6% versus 52.1% (ether-based) capacity after 400 cycles at 1.7 mA cm−2. Moreover, similar efficacy is observed with caffeic acid‑zirconium hybrid (CA-Zr) coatings. This work proposes a unique and practical strategy for regulating the interface of traditional separators by use of CA-Ti or CA-Zr coatings, thereby enabling high-efficiency dendrite suppression in LMBs. • A functional separator (CA-Ti@PP) with an ultrathin (∼500 nm) coating layer. • The CA-Ti coating contains nanopores and radicals. • CA-Ti@PP enables efficient Li-ion transport and homogenized current density. • CA-Ti@PP suppresses Li dendrites and improves cycle stability in Li-metal batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Chemical Engineering Journal is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1016/j.cej.2026.174259
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        Text: English
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        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Nanopores
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      – SubjectFull: Polymeric membranes
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      – SubjectFull: Lithium cells
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      – SubjectFull: Surfaces (Technology)
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      – SubjectFull: Ionic conductivity
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      – TitleFull: Interfacial engineering of polyolefin separators via caffeic acid-titanium coating for high-efficiency lithium dendrite suppression.
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            NameFull: Chen, Zi-Yin
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              Text: Mar2026
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