Molecular Engineering of Dual-Ion Regulated Covalent Organic Frameworks for Dendrite Suppression in Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries.

Zhan, Ningrui; Zhang, Hai; Wang, Youliang; Qi, XingTao; Wang, Fan; Yang, Zhenyu; Qiu, Jikuan; Koratkar, Nikhil · ACS Nano · 2026

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) solid electrolytes offer processability, flexibility and low-cost, yet their poor ionic conductivity and limited dendrite suppression capability impedes practical applications. Despite advances in Li<sup>+</sup> transport kinetics, performance degradation persists due to space-charge polarization induced by uncontrolled anion migration. Here, we present a covalent organic framework (COF) for synchronous cation and anion regulation. By integrating lithiophilic methoxy groups and anionophilic imidazolium species into a single framework, this ionic COF (ICOF) enables synergistic ion management in PEO electrolytes. Ordered channels with fast-hopping sites facilitate rapid Li<sup>+</sup> conduction, while cationic sites immobilize TFSI<sup>-</sup> anions, preventing anion depletion and subsequent space-charge polarization. This dual-ion regulation leads to an Li<sup>+</sup> transference number of ∼0.72 and effective dendrite mitigation in symmetric-cells as well as full-cells with LiFePO<sub>4</sub> and high-voltage NCM811 cathodes. By engineering COFs with spatially segregated yet functionally complementary motifs, selective anion immobilization alongside fast cation transport is achievable, potentially breaking the conventional trade-offs that have limited PEO-based lithium metal batteries.