Chimica Didactica Acta, Journal of Chemistry and Chemistry Education
Vol. 14 No. 1: June 2026

POLYMER MEMBRANES AS SEPARATORS FOR LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Romario Abdullah (Institut Pertanian Bogor)
Dinia Astira (Research Center for Chemistry - National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN))
Alvin Romadhoni Putra Hidayat (Department of Chemistry, Diponegoro University)



Article Info

Publish Date
27 Jun 2026

Abstract

The separator plays a critical role as a physical barrier between the anode and cathode while simultaneously serving as an ion transport medium. Therefore, properties such as porosity, wettability, mechanical strength, and thermal stability are key parameters that determine battery performance. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of polymer-based membrane separators for lithium batteries. The literature survey was performed following the PRISMA framework using publications retrieved from Google Scholar between 2010 and 2026, with studies selected based on their relevance to separator materials, fabrication methods, characterization techniques, and electrochemical performance. Conventional polyolefin based separators, such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), have been widely utilized. Beyond polyolefins, alternative polymers including cellulose acetate and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) have also been developed for lithium battery separators. Each polymer exhibits distinct physicochemical characteristics, leading to varied performance when employed as a separator. A range of characterization techniques has been employed to evaluate separator properties, including X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Linear Sweep Voltammetry (LSV), Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Galvanostatic Charge Discharge (GCD). Furthermore, the development of membrane separators has been significantly advanced through the incorporation of inorganic materials into the polymer matrix. The inclusion of such inorganic fillers has been shown to enhance thermal stability and wettability, thereby improving overall separator performance. Moreover, the utilization of nanoscale materials is strongly recommended to achieve superior and optimized electrochemical performance.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

CDA

Publisher

Subject

Description

Chimica Didactica Acta (CDA) is an open access journal that provides an international platform for the publication of high-quality research in chemistry and chemistry education. The journal welcomes contributions from all sub-disciplines of chemistry, with a strong emphasis on teaching, learning, ...