Battery separator including zeolite coating positioned within inter-particle pores of substrate, lithium-ion battery, and method of making the same

A lithium-ion battery separator includes a substrate defining inter-particle pores and a zeolite coating on a surface of the substrate. The zeolite coating includes zeolite particles. The zeolite particles are hydrophobic and have an average diameter smaller than an average pore size of inter-particle pores of the substrate, such that some of the zeolite particles are positioned in some of the inter-particle pores. The separator is non-flammable. In a lithium-ion battery, the substrate is a first electrode, and a second electrode is in direct contact with the zeolite coating. The lithium-ion battery includes a non-flammable salt-concentrated electrolyte, and the zeolite coating has a high wettability for the electrolyte. The lithium-ion battery is non-flammable.