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Vol. 18 (2026)

Bioinspired Vascular Bundle Structured Nanocellulose/PVDF-HFP Composite Membranes for Efficient Ion Transport and Stable All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-026-02092-0
Chenxiang Gao
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, People’s Republic of China
Yijie Zhou
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, People’s Republic of China
Yun Huang
School of New Energy and Materials, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, People’s Republic of China
Shuhui Wang
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, People’s Republic of China
Xiaoyan Ma
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, People’s Republic of China

Corresponding Author: Xiaoyan Ma

m_xiao_yana@nwpu.edu.cn

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 18 (2026), Article Number: 254

Abstract

In-situ polymerization of solid-state polymer electrolytes is a promising approach for achieving mass production of all-solid-state batteries. However, inferior ionic conductivity and separator infiltration limit practical applications. Inspired by the nutrient-transporting vascular bundles in plants, a biomimetic fluorinated nanocellulose/PVDF-HFP porous composite membrane of stacked parallel nanocellulose bundles wrapped by PVDF-HFP sheaths is designed and prepared. The nanocellulose bundles assembled of fluorinated cellulose nanocrystals and cellulose nanofibers through shear-induced alignment create low-curvature ion transport channels, while the PVDF-HFP sheath facilitates lithium salt dissociation and reinforces structural stability. Benefiting from this bundle-sheath structure, the composite membrane exhibits excellent ionic conductivity, stability, and electrolyte wettability. The polymer electrolyte prepared with this composite membrane has a high ionic conductivity of 2.46 × 10−4 S cm−1 (30 °C), an electrochemical stability window (5.3 V), and cycle stability. Consequently, Li||LFP cells can retain a superior capacity of 77.48% after 1000 cycles at 1 C, and Li||NCM811 cells can maintain 83.94% capacity after 300 cycles at 0.1 C. Moreover, pouch cells can withstand temperatures up to 130 °C without thermal runaway. This biomimetic strategy provides a promising pathway to advance cellulose separators for high-performance all-solid-state batteries.


Highlights:
1 Bioinspired bundle-sheath structure improves electrochemical and thermal stability; nanocellulose composite membranes can be used as high-performance all-solid-state lithium batteries separators.
2 The FFP/ASSPE has a high ionic conductivity of 2.46 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 30 °C.
3 Li|FFP/ASSPE|LFP cells can maintain 77.48% capacity after 1000 cycles at 1 C, and Li|FFP/ASSPE|NCM811 cells maintain 83.94% capacity after 300 cycles of 0.1 C.

Keywords

Nanocellulose PVDF-HFP Separators Lithium batteries Polymer electrolytes
Gao, Chenxiang, Yijie Zhou, Yun Huang, Shuhui Wang, and Xiaoyan Ma. 2026. “Bioinspired Vascular Bundle Structured Nanocellulose/PVDF-HFP Composite Membranes for Efficient Ion Transport and Stable All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries”. Nano-Micro Letters 18 (February):254. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-026-02092-0.
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