Advances in the Cathode Materials for Lithium Rechargeable Batteries

Self-Limiting Phase Transition Enabling Reversible Overstoichiometric Li Storage in Ni-Rich Cathodes

Ni-rich cathodes are some of the most promising candidates for advanced lithium-ion batteries, but their available capacities have been stagnant due to the intrinsic Li+ storage sites. Extending the voltage window down can induce the phase transition from O3 to 1T of LiNiO2-derived cathodes to accommodate excess Li+ and dramatically increase the capacity. By setting the discharge cutoff voltage of LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 to 1.4 V, we can reach an extremely high capacity of 393 mAh g-1 and an energy density of 1070 Wh kg-1 here. However, the phase transition causes fast capacity decay and related structural evolution is rarely understood, hindering the utilization of this feature. We find that the overlithiated phase transition is self-limiting, which will transform into solid-solution reaction with cycling and make the cathode degradation slow down. This is attributed to the migration of abundant transition metal ions into lithium layers induced by the overlithiation, allowing the intercalation of overstoichiometric Li+ into the crystal without the O3 framework change. Based on this, the wide-potential cycling stability is further improved via a facile charge-discharge protocol. This work provides deep insight into the overstoichiometric Li+ storage behaviors in conventional layered cathodes and opens a new avenue toward high-energy batteries.

Sustainable upcycling of mixed spent cathodes to a high-voltage polyanionic cathode material

Sustainable battery recycling is essential for achieving resource conservation and alleviating environmental issues. Many open/closed-loop strategies for critical metal recycling or direct recovery aim at a single component, and the reuse of mixed cathode materials is a significant challenge. To address this barrier, here we propose an upcycling strategy for spent LiFePO4 and Mn-rich cathodes by structural design and transition metal replacement, for which uses a green deep eutectic solvent to regenerate a high-voltage polyanionic cathode material. This process ensures the complete recycling of all the elements in mixed cathodes and the deep eutectic solvent can be reused. The regenerated LiFe0.5Mn0.5PO4 has an increased mean voltage (3.68 V versus Li/Li+) and energy density (559 Wh kg-1) compared with a commercial LiFePO4 (3.38 V and 524 Wh kg-1). The proposed upcycling strategy can expand at a gram-grade scale and was also applicable for LiFe0.5Mn0.5PO4 recovery, thus achieving a closed-loop recycling between the mixed spent cathodes and the next generation cathode materials. Techno-economic analysis shows that this strategy has potentially high environmental and economic benefits, while providing a sustainable approach for the value-added utilization of waste battery materials.

Selenium-Doped Sulfurized Polyacrylonitrile Hybrid Cathodes with Ultrahigh Sulfur Content for High-Performance Solid-State Lithium Sulfur Batteries

The solid-state lithium sulfur battery (SSLSB) is an attractive next-generation energy storage system by reason of its remarkably high energy density and safety. However, the SSLSB still faces critical challenges, such as sluggish reaction kinetics, mismatched interface, and undesirable reversible capacity. Herein, a high-performance SSLSB is reported using sulfurized polyacrylonitrile with rich selenium-doped sulfur (Se/S-S@pPAN) as a cathode and poly(ethylene oxide)/Li7La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 (PEO-LLZTO) as an electrolyte. The sulfur content of the cathode up to 60.9 wt % can be achieved by dispersing selenium sulfide (SeSx) species in the sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (S@pPAN) skeleton at a molecular level. Selenium as a eutectic accelerator can be uniformly distributed in the composite through the Se-S bond and can accelerate the reaction kinetics. The PEO-LLZTO hybrid solid-state electrolyte (SSE) displays an attractive electrochemical performance and provides an intimate contact with electrodes. At 60 °C, Se/S-S@pPAN delivers an impressive discharge capacity of 1042 mAh g-1 at 0.1C and 445 mAh g-1 at 1C. Additionally, the LiFePO4 cathodes combined with PEO-LLZTO deliver a high reversible capacity (158.9 mAh g-1, 1C) and an ultralong lifespan (a capacity retention of 80%, 1000 cycles) at 1C. The synergetic design of the high-performance sulfur cathode and the organic/inorganic hybrid electrolyte is crucial for enabling the high-performance SSLSB.

Revealing the Nanoscopic Corrosive Degradation Mechanism of Nickel-Rich Layered Oxide Cathodes at Low State-of-Charge Levels: Corrosion Cracking and Pitting

Ni-rich layered oxides have received significant attention as promising cathode materials for Li-ion batteries due to their high reversible capacity. However, intergranular and intragranular cracks form at high state-of-charge (SOC) levels exceeding 4.2 V (vs. Li/Li+), representing a prominent failure mechanism of Ni-rich layered oxides. The nanoscale crack formation at high SOC levels is attributed to a significant volume change resulting from a phase transition between the H2 and H3 phases. Herein, in contrast to the electrochemical crack formation at high SOC levels, another mechanism of chemical crack and pit formation on a nanoscale is directly evidenced in fully lithiated Ni-rich layered oxides (low SOC levels). This mechanism is associated with intergranular stress corrosion cracking, driven by chemical corrosion at elevated temperatures. The nanoscopic chemical corrosion behavior of Ni-rich layered oxides during aging at elevated temperatures is investigated using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, revealing that microcracks can develop through two distinct mechanisms: electrochemical cycling and chemical corrosion. Notably, chemical corrosion cracks can occur even in a fully discharged state (low SOC levels), whereas electrochemical cracks are observed only at high SOC levels. This finding provides a comprehensive understanding of the complex failure mechanisms of Ni-rich layered oxides and provides an opportunity to improve their electrochemical performance.

Cathode active materials using rare metals recovered from waste lithium-ion batteries: A review

Large-scale lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are overtaking as power sources for electric vehicles and grid-scale energy-storage systems for renewable sources. Accordingly, large amounts of LIBs are expected to be discarded in the near future. Recycling technologies for waste LIBs, particularly for valuable rare metals (Li, Co, and Ni) used in cathode active materials, need to be developed to construct continuous LIB supply chains. Various recovery methodologies, such as pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, and direct recycling, as well as their advantages, disadvantages, and technical features, are briefly introduced. We review the electrochemical performances of these cathode active materials based on recycled rare metals from LIB waste. Moreover, the physicochemical properties and electrochemical performance of the cathode active materials with impurities incorporated during recycling, which have high academic significance, are outlined. In hydrometallurgy-based LIB recycling, the complete removal of impurities in cathode active materials is not realistic for the mass and sustainable production of LIBs; thus, optimal control of the impurity levels is of significance. Meanwhile, the studies on the direct recycling of LIB showed the necessity of almost complete impurity removal and restoration of physicochemical properties in cathode active materials. This review provides a survey of the technological outlook of reusing cathode active materials from waste LIBs.

Functional Optical Fiber Sensors Detecting Imperceptible Physical/Chemical Changes for Smart Batteries

The battery technology progress has been a contradictory process in which performance improvement and hidden risks coexist. Now the battery is still a "black box", thus requiring a deep understanding of its internal state. The battery should "sense its internal physical/chemical conditions", which puts strict requirements on embedded sensing parts. This paper summarizes the application of advanced optical fiber sensors in lithium-ion batteries and energy storage technologies that may be mass deployed, focuses on the insights of advanced optical fiber sensors into the processes of one-dimensional nano-micro-level battery material structural phase transition, electrolyte degradation, electrode-electrolyte interface dynamics to three-dimensional macro-safety evolution. The paper contributes to understanding how to use optical fiber sensors to achieve "real" and "embedded" monitoring. Through the inherent advantages of the advanced optical fiber sensor, it helps clarify the battery internal state and reaction mechanism, aiding in the establishment of more detailed models. These advancements can promote the development of smart batteries, with significant importance lying in essentially promoting the improvement of system consistency. Furthermore, with the help of smart batteries in the future, the importance of consistency can be weakened or even eliminated. The application of advanced optical fiber sensors helps comprehensively improve the battery quality, reliability, and life.

A High-Voltage Cathode Material with Ultralong Cycle Performance for Sodium-Ion Batteries

Vanadium-based polyanionic materials are promising electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their outstanding advantages such as high voltage, acceptable specific capacity, excellent structural reversibility, good thermal stability, etc. Polyanionic compounds, moreover, can exhibit excellent multiplicity performance as well as good cycling stability after well-designed carbon covering and bulk-phase doping and thus have attracted the attention of multiple researchers in recent years. In this paper, after the modification of carbon capping and bulk-phase nitrogen doping, compared to pristine Na3 V2 (PO4 )3 , the well optimized Na3 V(PO3 )3 N/C possesses improved electromagnetic induction strength and structural stability, therefore exhibits exceptional cycling capability of 96.11% after 500 cycles at 2 C (1 C = 80 mA g-1 ) with an elevated voltage platform of 4 V (vs Na+ /Na). Meanwhile, the designed Na3 V(PO3 )3 N/C possesses an exceptionally low volume change of ≈0.12% during cycling, demonstrating its quasi-zero strain property, ensuring an impressive capacity retention of 70.26% after 10,000 cycles at 2 C. This work provides a facial and cost-effective synthesis method to obtain stable vanadium-based phosphate materials and highlights the enhanced electrochemical properties through the strategy of carbon rapping and bulk-phase nitrogen doping.

Stabilizing Ni-rich Single-crystalline LiNi0.83 Co0.07 Mn0.10 O2 Cathodes using Ce/Gd Co-doped High-entropy Composite Surfaces

Ni-rich layered oxides are promising lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) cathode materials for their high reversible capacity, but they suffer from fast structural degradation during cycling. Here, we report the Ce/Gd incorporated single-crystalline LiNi0.83 Co0.07 Mn0.10 O2 (SC-NCM) cathode materials with significantly enhanced cycling stability. The Gd ions are adequately incorporated in SC-NCM while Ce ions are prone to aggregate in the outer surface, resulting in the formation of a high-entropy zone in the near-surface of SC-NCM, including a Gd doped LiCeO2 (LCGO) shell and Ce/Gd dopant-concentrated layer. The high-entropy zone can effectively inhibit the oxygen evolution and prevent the formation of oxygen vacancies. Meanwhile, it leads to a greatly improved H2-H3 phase transformation reversibility and mitigated stress/strain caused by Li-ion extraction/insertion during (de)lithiation process. The synergetic effects of reduced oxygen vacancies concentration and mitigated stress/strain can effectively prevent the in-plane migration of TM ions, lattice planar gliding as well as the formation of intragranular nanocracks. Consequently, Ce/Gd incorporated SC-NCM (SC-NCM@CG2) delivers a high initial discharge specific capacity of 219.7 mAh g-1 at 0.1 C and an excellent cycling stability with a capacity retention of 90.2 % after 100 cycles at 1.0 C.

How uniform particle size of NMC90 boosts lithium ion mobility for faster charging and discharging in a cylindrical lithium ion battery cell

The pursuit of high-performing cathode materials for next-generation lithium ion batteries has focused on increasing the nickel content of the material. However, this study reveals that particle size uniformity is a more decisive factor in battery performance than the nickel content alone. Using in operando X-ray diffraction, in situ gas evolution, and Atlung intercalant diffusion, we compared two promising cathode materials: LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC80) and LiNi0.9Mn0.05Co0.05O2 (NMC90). We found that the NMC90 cell, with its more uniform particle size, exhibits a remarkable accumulation energy density of 558 kW h kgNMC-1, which is 22% higher than that of the NMC80 cell. Also, the NMC90 cell unexpectedly has a 20% better capacity retention, a 50-fold higher discharge capacity at the 5C rate, and an Atlung lithium diffusion coefficient that is one order of magnitude higher after 1000 cycles. In situ gas analysis at a high voltage of 4.5 V reveals that the NMC80 cell generates 1.75 times more CO2 than the NMC90 cell. These findings illuminate the intricate relationship between the nickel content, particle size uniformity, and battery performance. They offer vital insights for optimizing cathode materials in future lithium ion batteries.

Effect of Oxidative Synthesis Conditions on the Performance of Single-Crystalline LiMn2- x Mx O4 (M = Al, Fe, and Ni) Spinel Cathodes in Lithium-Ion Batteries

LiMn2 O4 (LMO) spinel cathode materials attract much interest due to the low price of manganese and high power density for lithium-ion batteries. However, the LMO cathodes suffer from the Mn dissolution problem at particle surfaces, which accelerates capacity fade. Herein, the authors report that the oxidative synthesis condition is a key factor in the cell performance of single-crystalline LiMn2- x Mx O4 (0.03 ≤ x ≤ 0.1, M = Al, Fe, and Ni) cathode materials prepared at 1000 °C. The use of oxygen flow during the spinel-phase formation minimizes the presence of oxygen vacancies generated at 1000 °C, thereby yielding a stoichiometrically doped LMO product; otherwise, the spinel cathode prepared in atmospheric air readily loses capacity due to the oxygen vacancies in the structure. As a way of circumventing the use of oxygen flow, a one-pot, two-step heating in air at 1000 °C and subsequently at 600 °C is used to yield the stoichiometric LMO product. The lithiation heating at 1000-600 ⁰C resulted in a significant improvement in the cycling stability of the prepared LMO cathode in graphite-based full cells. This study on oxidative synthesis conditions also confirms the advantage of minimizing the surface area of the cathode particles.

Corridor-Level Impacts of Battery-Electric Heavy-Duty Trucks and the Effects of Policy in the United States

Electrifying freight trucks will be key to alleviating air pollution burdens on disadvantaged communities and mitigating climate change. The United States plans to pursue this aim by adding vehicle charging infrastructure along specific freight corridors. This study explores the coevolution of the electricity grid and freight trucking landscape using an integrated assessment framework to identify when each interstate and drayage corridor becomes advantageous to electrify from a climate and human health standpoint. Nearly all corridors achieve greenhouse gas emission reductions if electrified now. Most can reduce health impacts from air pollution if electrified by 2040 although some corridors in the Midwest, South, and Mid-Atlantic regions remain unfavorable to electrify from a human health standpoint, absent policy support. Recent policy, namely, the Inflation Reduction Act, accelerates this timeline to 2030 for most corridors and results in net human health benefits on all corridors by 2050, suggesting that near-term investments in truck electrification, particularly drayage corridors, can meaningfully reduce climate and health burdens.

Intergranular Shielding for Ultrafine-Grained Mo-Doped Ni-Rich Li[Ni0.96 Co0.04 ]O2 Cathode for Li-Ion Batteries with High Energy Density and Long Life

Deploying Ni-enriched (Ni≥95 %) layered cathodes for high energy-density lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) requires resolving a series of technical challenges. Among them, the structural weaknesses of the cathode, vigorous reactivity of the labile Ni4+ ion species, gas evolution and associated cell swelling, and thermal instability issues are critical obstacles that must be solved. Herein, we propose an intuitive strategy that can effectively ameliorate the degradation of an extremely high-Ni-layered cathode, the construction of ultrafine-scale microstructure and subsequent intergranular shielding of grains. The formation of ultrafine grains in the Ni-enriched Li[Ni0.96 Co0.04 ]O2 (NC96) cathode, achieved by impeding particle coarsening during cathode calcination, noticeably improved the mechanical durability and electrochemical performance of the cathode. However, the buildup of the strain-resistant microstructure in Mo-doped NC96 concurrently increased the cathode-electrolyte contact area at the secondary particle surface, which adversely accelerated parasitic reactions with the electrolyte. The intergranular protection of the refined microstructure resolved the remaining chemical instability of the Mo-doped NC96 cathode by forming an F-induced coating layer, effectively alleviating structural degradation and gas generation, thereby extending the battery's lifespan. The proposed strategies synergistically improved the structural and chemical durability of the NC96 cathode, satisfying the energy density, life cycle performance, and safety requirements for next-generation LIBs.

Effects of Synthesis Conditions of Na0.44MnO2 Precursor on the Electrochemical Performance of Reduced Li2MnO3 Cathode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Li2MnO3 nanobelts have been synthesized via the molten salt method that used the Na0.44MnO2 nanobelts as both the manganese source and precursor template in LiNO3-LiCl eutectic molten salt. The electrochemical properties of Li2MnO3 reduced via a low-temperature reduction process as cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries have been measured and compared. Particularly investigated in this work are the effects of the synthesis conditions, such as reaction temperature, molten salt contents, and reaction time on the morphology and particle size of the synthesized Na0.44MnO2 precursor. Through repeated synthesis characterizations of the Na0.44MnO2 precursor, and comparing the electrochemical properties of the reduced Li2MnO3 nanobelts, the optimum conditions for the best electrochemical performance of the reduced Li2MnO3 are determined to be a molten salt reaction temperature of 850 °C and a molten salt amount of 25 g. When charge-discharged at 0.1 C (1 C = 200 mAh g-1) with a voltage window between 2.0 and 4.8 V, the reduced Li2MnO3 synthesized with reaction temperature of Na0.44MnO2 precursor at 850 °C and molten salt amounts of 25 g exhibits the best rate performance and cycling performance. This work develops a new strategy to prepare manganese-based cathode materials with special morphology.

Lithium Storage Mechanism: A Review of Perylene Diimide N-Substituted with a 1,2,4-Triazol-3-yl Ring for Organic Cathode Materials

The demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has increased rapidly. However, commercial inorganic-based cathode materials have a low theoretical capacity and inherent disadvantages, such as high cost and toxicity. Redox-active organic cathodes with a high theoretical capacity, eco-friendly properties, and sustainability have been developed to overcome these limitations. Herein, perylene diimide derivatives N-substituted with 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl rings (PDI-3AT) were developed to apply as a cathode material for LIBs. The PDI-3AT cathode exhibited discharge capacities of 85.2 mAh g-1 (50 mA g-1 over 100 cycles) and 64.5 mAh g-1 (500 mA g-1 over 1000 cycles) with ratios to the theoretical capacities of 84 and 64%, respectively. Electrochemical kinetics analysis showed capacitive behaviors of the PDI-3AT cathode with efficient pathways for lithium-ion transport. Also, the activation step of the PDI-3AT cathode was demonstrated by improving the charge transfer resistance and lithium-ion diffusion coefficient during the initial few charge-discharge cycles. Furthermore, DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-311+G** level and ex situ analysis of various charge states of the PDI-3AT electrode using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were conducted for the further study of the lithium-ion storage mechanism. The results showed that the lithiation process formed the lithium enolate (═C-O-Li) coordinated with the N atoms of the 1,2,4-triazole ring. It is expected that our study results will encourage the production and use of redox-active perylene diimide derivatives as next-generation cathode materials.

High-Energy Aqueous/Organic Hybrid Batteries Enabled by Cu2+ Redox Charge Carriers

Lithium||sulfur (Li||S) batteries are considered as one of the promising next-generation batteries due to the high theoretical capacity and low cost of S cathodes, as well as the low redox potential of Li metal anodes (-3.04 V vs. standard hydrogen electrode). However, the S reduction reaction from S to Li2 S leads to limited discharge voltage and capacity, largely hindering the energy density of Li||S batteries. Herein, high-energy Li||S hybrid batteries were designed via an electrolyte decoupling strategy. In cathodes, S electrodes undergo the solid-solid conversion reaction from S to Cu2 S with four-electron transfer in a Cu2+ -based aqueous electrolyte. Such an energy storage mechanism contributes to enhanced electrochemical performance of S electrodes, including high discharge potential and capacity, superior rate performance and stable cycling behavior. As a result, the assembled Li||S hybrid batteries exhibit a high discharge voltage of 3.4 V and satisfactory capacity of 2.3 Ah g-1 , contributing to incredible energy density. This work provides an opportunity for the construction of high-energy Li||S batteries.

An effective co-modification strategy to enhance the cycle stability of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 for lithium-ion batteries

Ni-rich cathode materials suffer from rapid capacity fading caused by interface side reactions and bulk structure degradation. Previous studies show that Co is conducive to bulk structure stability and sulfate can react with the residual lithium (LiOH and Li2CO3) on the surface of Ni-rich cathode materials and form a uniform coating to suppress the side reactions between the cathode and electrolyte. Here, CoSO4 is utilized as a modifier for LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) cathode materials. It reacts with the residual lithium on the surface of the NCM811 cathode to form Li-ion conductive Li2SO4 protective layers and Co doping simultaneously during the high-temperature sintering process, which can suppress the side reactions between the Ni-rich cathode and electrolyte and effectively prevent the structural transformation. As a result, the co-modified NCM811 cathode with 3 wt% CoSO4 exhibits an improved cycling performance of 81.1% capacity retention after 200 cycles at 1C and delivers an excellent rate performance at 5C of 187.4 mA h g-1, which is 10.2% higher than that of the pristine NCM811 cathode.

TiO2-LiF composite coating for improving NCM622 cathode cycling stability: one-step construction

The Ni-rich NCM622 is a promising cathode material for future high energy lithium ion batteries, but unstable electrochemical performance of NCM622 hinder its large scale commercial application. The cycling peformance of nickel-rich LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 (NCM622) cathode materials can be improved by surface coating. Here, a one-step approach based on TiF4 is used to successfully manufacture modified NCM622 cathode materials with a TiO2-LiF coating. The TiO2-LiF coated NCM622 preserves 79.7% capacity retention which is higher than the pure NCM622 (68.9%) at 1C after 200 cycles within 2.7-4.3 V. This material serves as the cathode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The uniform TiO2-LiF coating layer can alleviate structural degradation brought on by unfavorable side reactions with the electrolyte has been validated. TiO2-LiF coated on NCM622 cathode materials can be modified easily by one-step approach.

Surface Modification on Nickel Rich Cathode Materials for Lithium-Ion Cells: A Mini Review

Nickel-rich (Ni-rich) layered oxides are considered as the most promising cathode candidates for lithium-ion cells owing to their high theoretical specific capacity. However, the higher nickel content endows structural deformation through unwanted phase transitions and parasitic side reactions that lead to capacity fading upon prolonged cycling. Hence, a deep understanding of the chemistry and structural behaviour is essential for developing Ni-rich Lithium Nickel Cobalt Manganese oxide (NCM) cathode-based high-energy batteries. The present review focuses on the different challenges associated with Ni-rich NCM materials and surface modification as a strategy to solve the issues associated with NCM materials, assessment of several coating materials, and the recent developments in the surface modification of Ni-rich NCMs, with an in-depth discussion on the impact of coating on the degradation mechanism.

Potential Controllable Redox Couple for Mild and Efficient Lithium Recovery from Spent Batteries

The prosperity of the lithium-ion battery market is dialectically accompanied by the depletion of corresponding resources and the accumulation of spent batteries. It is an urgent priority to develop green and efficient battery recycling strategies for helping ease resources and environmental pressures at the current stage. Here, we propose a mild and efficient lithium extracting strategy based on potential controllable redox couples. Active lithium in the spent battery without discharging is extracted using a series of tailored aprotic solutions comprised of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and ethers. This ensures a safe yet efficient recycling process with nearly ≈100 % lithium recovery. We further investigate the Li+ -electron concerted redox reactions and the effect of solvation structure on kinetics during the extraction, and broaden the applicability of the Li-PAHs solution. This work can stimulate new inspiration for designing novel solutions to meet efficient and sustainable demands in recycling batteries.

Tailored PVDF Graft Copolymers via ATRP as High-Performance NCM811 Cathode Binders

High-nickel layered oxides, e.g., LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811), are promising candidates for cathode materials in high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Complementing the notable developments of modification of active materials, this study focused on the polymer binder materials, and a new synthetic route was developed to engineer PVDF binders by covalently grafting copolymers from poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-chlorotrifluoroethylene) (PVDF-CTFE) with multiple functionalities using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The grafted random copolymer binder provided excellent flexibility (319% elongation), adhesion strength (50 times higher than PVDF), transition metal chelation capability, and efficient ionic conductivity pathways. The NCM811 half-cells using the designed binders exhibited a remarkable rate capability of 143.4 mA h g-1 at 4C and cycling stability with 70.1% capacity retention after 230 cycles at 0.5 C, which is much higher than the 52.3% capacity retention of nonmodified PVDF. The well-retained structure of NCM811 with the designed binder was systematically studied and confirmed by post-mortem analysis.

Correlating Rate-Dependent Transition Metal Dissolution between Structure Degradation in Li-Rich Layered Oxides

Understanding the mechanism of the rate-dependent electrochemical performance degradation in cathodes is crucial to developing fast charging/discharging cathodes for Li-ion batteries. Here, taking Li-rich layered oxide Li1.2 Ni0.13 Co0.13 Mn0.54 O2 as the model cathode, the mechanisms of performance degradation at low and high rates are comparatively investigated from two aspects, the transition metal (TM) dissolution and the structure change. Quantitative analyses combining spatial-resolved synchrotron X-ray fluorescence (XRF) imaging, synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques reveal that low-rate cycling leads to gradient TM dissolution and severe bulk structure degradation within the individual secondary particles, and especially the latter causes lots of microcracks within secondary particles, and becomes the main reason for the fast capacity and voltage decay. In contrast, high-rate cycling leads to more TM dissolution than low-rate cycling, which concentrates at the particle surface and directly induces the more severe surface structure degradation to the electrochemically inactive rock-salt phase, eventually causing a faster capacity and voltage decay than low-rate cycling. These findings highlight the protection of the surface structure for developing fast charging/discharging cathodes for Li-ion batteries.

Critical Factors to Understanding the Electrochemical Performance of All-Solid-State Batteries: Solid Interfaces and Non-Zero Lattice Strain

All-solid-state lithium batteries have been developed to secure safety by substituting a flammable liquid electrolyte with a non-flammable solid electrolyte. However, owing to the nature of solids, interfacial issues between cathode materials and solid electrolytes, including chemical incompatibility, electrochemo-mechanical behavior, and physical contact, pose significant challenges for commercialization. Herein, critical factors for understanding the performance of all-solid-state batteries in terms of solid interfaces and non-zero lattice strains are identified through a strategic approach. The initial battery capacity can be increased via surface coating and electrode-fabrication methods; however, the increased lattice strain causes significant stress to the solid interface, which degrades the battery cycle life. However, this seesaw effect can be alleviated using a more compacted electrode microstructure between the solid electrolyte and oxide cathode materials. The compact solid interfaces contribute to low charge-transfer resistance and a homogeneous reaction between particles, thereby leading to improved electrochemical performance. These findings demonstrate, for the first time, a correlation between the uniformity of the electrode microstructure and electrochemical performance through the investigation of the reaction homogeneity among particles. Additionally, this study furthers the understanding of the relationship between electrochemical performance, non-zero lattice strain, and solid interfaces.

Long-Life, High-Rate Rechargeable Lithium Batteries Based on Soluble Bis(2-pyrimidyl) Disulfide Cathode

Organosulfides are promising candidates as cathode materials for the development of electric vehicles and energy storage systems due to their low-cost and high capacity properties. However, they generally suffer from slow kinetics because of the large rearrangement of S-S bonds and structural degradation upon cycling in batteries. In this paper, we reveal that soluble bis(2-pyrimidyl) disulfide (Pym2 S2 ) can be a high-rate cathode material for rechargeable lithium batteries. Benefiting from the superdelocalization of pyrimidyl group, the extra electrons prefer to be localized on the π* (pyrimidyl group) than σ* (S-S bond) molecular orbitals initially, generating the anion-like intermedia of [Pym2 S2 ]2- and thus decreasing the dissociation energy of the S-S bond. It makes the intrinsic energy barrier of dissociative electron transfer depleted, therefore the lithium half cell exhibits 2000 cycles at 5 C. This study provides a distinct pathway for the design of high-rate, long-cycle-life organic cathode materials.

Enhancing anionic redox stability via oxygen coordination configurations

Anionic redox in Li-rich cathode materials with disordered crystal structures has potential to increase battery energy density. However, capacity fading due to anionic redox-induced structural transformation hinders practical implementation. To address this challenge, it is crucial to understand the influence of the anion coordination structure on redox reversibility. By comprehensively studying the spinel-like Li1.7Mn1.6O3.7F0.3 and layered Li2MnO3 model systems, we found that tetrahedral oxygen exhibits higher kinetic and thermodynamic stability than octahedral oxygen in Li1.7Mn1.6O3.7F0.3 and Li2MnO3, effectively suppressing aggregation of oxidized anions. Electronic structure analysis showed that the 2p lone-pair states in tetrahedral oxygen lie deeper than those in octahedral oxygen. The Li-O-TM bond angle in a polyhedron is identified as a characteristic parameter to correlate anionic redox stability. TM substitutions using Co3+, Ti4+ and Mo5+ could effectively regulate the Li-O-Mn bond angle and anionic active electronic state. Our finding that anionic redox stability is influenced by the polyhedral structure offers new opportunities for designing high-energy-density Li-rich cathode materials.

Surface-Stabilized High-Entropy Layered Oxyfluoride Cathode for Lithium-Ion Batteries

High-entropy materials have been demonstrated to improve the structural stability and electrochemical performance of layered cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, structural stability at the surface and electrochemical performance of these materials are less than ideal. In this study, we show that fluorine substitution can improve both issues. Here, we report a new high-entropy layered cathode material Li_1.2Ni_0.15Co_0.15Al_0.1Fe_0.15Mn_0.25O_1.7F_0.3 (HEOF1) based on the partial substitution of oxygen with fluorine in previously reported high-entropy layered oxide LiNi_0.2Co_0.2Al_0.2Fe_0.2Mn_0.2O₂. This new compound delivers a discharge capacity of 85.4 mAh g^-1 and a capacity retention of 71.5% after 100 cycles, showing significant improvement from LiNi_0.2Co_0.2Al_0.2Fe_0.2Mn_0.2O₂ (first 57 mAh g^-1 and 9.8% after 50 cycles). This improved electrochemical performance is due to suppression of the surface M₃O₄ phase formation. Although still an early stage study, our results show an approach to stabilize the surface structure and improve the electrochemical performance of high-entropy layered cathode materials.

Tuning Local Structural Configurations to Improve Oxygen-Redox Reversibility of Li-Rich Layered Oxides

Li-rich layered oxides (LLOs) are regarded as one of the most desirable cathode materials due to their high specific capacity. Nevertheless, the irreversible oxygen release associated with low oxygen stability prevents their widespread application. Herein, an improved oxygen redox reversibility was achieved by constructing Ni²⁺-O^2--Ni²⁺ configurations. Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetometry measurements are used to track the evolution of the Ni²⁺-O^2--Ni²⁺ configuration during the electrochemical process. The strongest 180° superexchange interaction in the Ni²⁺-O^2--Ni²⁺ configuration, derived from the inevitable Li/Ni mixing in LLOs, regulates the local structure to form the ferrimagnetic (FiM) structural units. Consequently, the FiM structural units prevent the irreversible oxygen release and endow LLOs with high initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE). This work emphasizes the importance of the Ni²⁺-O^2--Ni²⁺ configuration for LLOs with high reversible capacity and proposes a synthesis approach to modulate the amount of FiM structural units.

Regulating the Anion Redox and Suppressing the Structural Distortion of Cation-Disordered Rock-Salt Cathode Materials to Improve Cycling Durability through Chlorine Substitution

Owing to the capacity boost from anion redox activities, cation-disordered rock-salt oxides are considered as potential candidates for the next-generation of high energy density Li-ion cathode materials. Unfortunately, the anion redox process that affords ultra-high specific capacity often triggers irreversible O₂ release, which brings about structural degradation and rapid capacity decay. In this study, we present a partial chlorine (Cl) substitution strategy to synthesize a new cation-disordered rock-salt compound of Li_1.225Ti_0.45Mn_0.325O_1.9Cl_0.1 and investigate the impact of Cl substitution on the oxygen redox process and the structural stability of cation-disordered rock-salt cathodes. We find that partial replacement of O^2- by Cl^- expands the cell volume and promotes anion redox reaction reversibility, thus increasing the Li⁺ ion diffusion rate and suppressing irreversible lattice oxygen loss. As a result, the Li_1.225Ti_0.45Mn_0.325O_1.9Cl_0.1 cathode exhibits significantly improved cycling durability at high current densities, compared with the pristine Li_1.225Ti_0.45Mn_0.325O₂ cathode. This work demonstrates the promising feasibility of the Cl substitution process for advanced cation-disordered rock-salt cathode materials.

An electrolyte additive for the improved high voltage performance of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) cathodes in Li-ion batteries

High-voltage cathode materials are important for the implementation of high-energy-density Li-ion batteries. However, with increasing cut-off voltages, interfacial instabilities between electrodes and the electrolyte limit their commercial development. This study addresses this issue by proposing a new electrolyte additive, (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTS). APTS stabilises the interface between the LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ (LNMO) cathode and the electrolyte in LNMO‖Li half-cells due to its multifunctional character. The amino groups in APTS facilitate the formation of a robust protective cathode layer. Its silane groups improve layer stability by neutralising the electrolyte's detrimental hydrogen fluoride and water. Electrochemical measurements reveal that the addition of 0.5 wt% APTS significantly improves the long-term cycling stability of LNMO‖Li half-cells at room temperature and 55 °C. APTS-addition to the electrolyte delivers excellent capacity retention of 92% after 350 cycles at room temperature and 71% after 300 cycles at 55 °C (1C) contrasting with the much lower performances of the additive-free electrolyte. The addition of a 0.5 wt% (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GLYMO) additive, which contains only the siloxane group, but lacks the amine group, displayed a capacity retention of 73% after 350 cycles at room temperature but degraded significantly upon cycling at 55 °C.

Surface Lattice Modulation through Chemical Delithiation toward a Stable Nickel-Rich Layered Oxide Cathode

Nickel-rich layered oxides (NLOs) are considered as one of the most promising cathode materials for next-generation high-energy lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), yet their practical applications are currently challenged by the unsatisfactory cyclability and reliability owing to their inherent interfacial and structural instability. Herein, we demonstrate an approach to reverse the unstable nature of NLOs through surface solid reaction, by which the reconstructed surface lattice turns stable and robust against both side reactions and chemophysical breakdown, resulting in improved cycling performance. Specifically, conformal La(OH)₃ nanoshells are built with their thicknesses controlled at nanometer accuracy, which act as a Li⁺ capturer and induce controlled reaction with the NLO surface lattices, thereby transforming the particle crust into an epitaxial layer with localized Ni/Li disordering, where lithium deficiency and nickel stabilization are both achieved by transforming oxidative Ni³⁺ into stable Ni²⁺. An optimized balance between surface stabilization and charge transfer is demonstrated by a representative NLO material, namely, LiNi_0.83Co_0.07Mn_0.1O₂, whose surface engineering leads to a highly improved capacity retention and excellent rate capability with a strong capability to inhibit the crack of NLO particles. Our study highlights the importance of surface chemistry in determining chemical and structural behaviors and paves a research avenue in controlling the surface lattice for the stabilization of NLOs toward reliable high-energy LIBs.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons as Anode Materials in Lithium-Ion Batteries: A DFT Study

The structure and energetics of the interactive behavior of Li⁺ and Li with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been studied at the wB97XD/6-311G(d,p) level of DFT. The electron distribution in the PAHs, analyzed using the topology of the molecular electrostatic potential (MESP), led to the categorization of their aromatic rings into five types, viz R_s, R_n, R_d, R_b, and R_e. Among the different rings, sextet-type R_s and naphthalene-type R_n rings showed the highest interaction with Li⁺. The change in MESP at the nucleus of Li⁺ (ΔV_Li⁺) due to the formation of the complex Li⁺...PAH is found to be proportional to the adsorption energy (E₁). In Li...PAH, the spin density on Li is close to zero, suggesting the formation of Li⁺...PAH^•- due to the electron transfer from Li to PAH. The adsorption energy (E₂) for Li...PAH does not correlate with the change in MESP at the nucleus of Li, whereas the dissociation energy (E₃) of Li⁺...PAH^•- to yield Li⁺ and PAH^•- correlates well with the MESP data, ΔV_Li. The study confirms that the change in MESP at the nucleus of Li⁺ due to complex formation gives a quantitative measure of the electronic effect of the cation-π binding. The cell potential (V_cell) is predicted for the lithium ion battery (LIB) using the Li⁺...PAH and Li...PAH adsorption energies. On the basis of the V_cell data, "carbon nanoflake"-type systems, viz coronene, circumbiphenyl, C₄₂H₁₆, and C₅₀H₁₈ are suggested as good anode materials for LIBs.

Li3TiCl6 as ionic conductive and compressible positive electrode active material for all-solid-state lithium-based batteries

The development of energy-dense all-solid-state Li-based batteries requires positive electrode active materials that are ionic conductive and compressible at room temperature. Indeed, these material properties could contribute to a sensible reduction of the amount of the solid-state electrolyte in the composite electrode, thus, enabling higher mass loading of active materials. Here, we propose the synthesis and use of lithium titanium chloride (Li₃TiCl₆) as room-temperature ionic conductive (i.e., 1.04 mS cm^-1 at 25 °C) and compressible active materials for all-solid-state Li-based batteries. When a composite positive electrode comprising 95 wt.% of Li₃TiCl₆ is tested in combination with a Li-In alloy negative electrode and Li₆PS₅Cl/Li₂ZrCl₆ solid-state electrolytes, an initial discharge capacity of about 90 mAh g^-1 and an average cell discharge voltage of about 2.53 V are obtained. Furthermore, a capacity retention of more than 62% is attainable after 2500 cycles at 92.5 mA g^-1 and 25 °C with an applied external pressure of 1.5 tons. We also report the assembly and testing of a "single Li₃TiCl₆" cell where this chloride material is used as the solid electrolyte, negative electrode and positive electrode.

B-/Si- containing electrolyte additive efficiently establish a stable interface for high-voltage LiCoO2 cathode and its synergistic effect on LiCoO2/graphite pouch cells

An effective electrolyte additive, 3-(tert-Butyldimethylsilyoxy) phenylboronic acid (TBPB), is proposed to significantly improve the cycle stability of high voltage LiCoO₂ (LCO) cathode. Experimental and computational results show that TBPB has a relatively higher oxidation activity than base electrolyte, and preferentially constructs a stable cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) containing B-/Si- components on LCO surface. Theoretical calculation, XPS and NMR data show that TBPB-derived CEI layer contains B-F species and has the function of eliminating HF. The as-formed CEI effectively inhibits the detrimental side reactions from electrolyte decomposition and LCO surface structure reconstruction. The capacity retention of LCO/Li half-cell increases from 38.92% (base electrolyte) to 83.70% after 150 cycles at 1 C between 3.0 V and 4.5 V by adding 1% TBPB. Moreover, TBPB is also reduced prior to base electrolyte, forming an ionic conducting solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on graphite surface. Benefiting from the synergistic effect between CEI layer on LCO cathode and SEI layer on graphite anode to effectively decrease the electrolyte decomposition, the capacity retention of commercial LCO/graphite pouch cell with 1% TBPB increases from 10.44% to 76.13% after 400 cycles at 1 C between 3.0 V and 4.5 V. This work demonstrates that TBPB can act as an effective film-forming additive for high energy density LCO cathode at high voltage, and provides novel insights for its commercial application from the aspect of synergistically interfacial stability.

Self-Healing Polymer Electrolytes for Next-Generation Lithium Batteries

The integration of polymer materials with self-healing features into advanced lithium batteries is a promising and attractive approach to mitigate degradation and, thus, improve the performance and reliability of batteries. Polymeric materials with an ability to autonomously repair themselves after damage may compensate for the mechanical rupture of an electrolyte, prevent the cracking and pulverization of electrodes or stabilize a solid electrolyte interface (SEI), thus prolonging the cycling lifetime of a battery while simultaneously tackling financial and safety issues. This paper comprehensively reviews various categories of self-healing polymer materials for application as electrolytes and adaptive coatings for electrodes in lithium-ion (LIBs) and lithium metal batteries (LMBs). We discuss the opportunities and current challenges in the development of self-healable polymeric materials for lithium batteries in terms of their synthesis, characterization and underlying self-healing mechanism, as well as performance, validation and optimization.

Towards commercialization of fluorinated cation-disordered rock-salt Li-ion cathodes

Cation-disordered rock-salt cathodes (DRX) are promising materials that could deliver high capacities (>250 mAh g^-1) with Earth abundant elements and materials. However, their electrochemical performances, other than the capacity, should be improved to be competitive cathodes, and many strategies have been introduced to enhance DRXs. Fluorination has been shown to inhibit oxygen loss and increase power density. Nevertheless, fluorinated cation-disordered rock-salts still suffer from rapid material deterioration and low scalability which limit their practical applications. This mini-review highlights the key challenges for the commercialization of fluorinated cation-disordered rock-salts, discusses the underlying reasons behind material failure and proposes future development directions.

Enhanced Electrochemical Performance of the LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 Cathode Material by the Construction of Uniform Lithium Silicate Nanoshells

In order to alleviate the rapid capacity decay caused by the instability of the crystal structure and electrode/electrolyte interface, a series of Li₂SiO₃-coated LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ materials have been prepared via the lithium acetate-assisted sol-gel method followed by a short-term calcination process. During the sol-gel process, TEOS is hydrolyzed, condensed, and polymerized with the assistance of lithium acetate to form a Li⁺-embedded [Si-O-Si]_n network structure to ensure the uniformity of the coating. By changing the amount of TEOS and lithium acetate, the coating thickness can be precisely controlled, whose effects on the structural and electrochemical properties of LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ materials are intensively investigated. The results show that the material with an appropriate thickness of Li₂SiO₃ coating exhibits a larger primary particle size and reduced secondary particle agglomeration. The uniform Li₂SiO₃ coating with appropriate thickness can not only improve Li⁺ ion diffusion kinetics but also suppress side reactions and CEI growth at the electrode/electrolyte interface. Besides, the interaction of Li₂SiO₃ with HF can alleviate electrode corrosion and the dissolution of transition metal ions. All the abovementioned factors together promote the significant improvement of the electrochemical performance of Li₂SiO₃-coated LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ materials.

Sodium titanium phosphate nanocube decorated on tablet-like carbon for robust sodium storage performance at low temperature

Sodium-ion batteries, featuring resource abundance and similar working mechanisms to lithium-ion batteries, have gained extensive interest in both scientific exploration and industrial applications. However, the extremely sluggish reaction kinetics of charge carrier (Na+) at subzero temperatures significantly reduces their specific capacities and cycling life. Herein, this study presents a novel hybrid structure with sodium titanium phosphate (NaTi2(PO4)3, NTP) nanocube in-situ decorated on tablet-like carbon (NTP/C), which manifests superior sodium storage performances at low temperatures. At even -25 °C, a stable cycling with a specific capacity of 94.3 mAh/g can still be maintained after 200 cycles at 0.5 A/g, delivering a high capacity retention of 91.5 % compared with that at room temperature, along with an excellent rate capability. Generally, the superionic conductor structure, flat voltage plateaus, as well as the conductive carbonaceous framework can efficiently facilitate the charge transfer, accelerate the diffusion of Na+, and decrease the electrochemical polarization. Moreover, further investigations on diffusion kinetics, solid electrolyte interface layer, and the interaction between NTP and carbonaceous skeleton reveal its high Na+ diffusion coefficient, robust solid electrolyte interface, and strong electronic interaction, thus contributing to the superior capacity retentions at subzero temperatures.

Ionothermal Synthesis of Fully Conjugated Covalent Organic Frameworks for High-Capacity and Ultrastable Potassium-Ion Batteries

Fully aromatic conjugated covalent organic frameworks (FAC-COFs) with excellent physicochemical stability have been emerging as active semiconductors for diverse potential applications. Developing efficient synthesis methods for fabricating FAC-COFs will significantly facilitate the exploration over their material and photonic/electronic functionalities. Herein, a facile solvent-free strategy is developed for the synthesis of 2D phthalocyanine-based FAC-COFs (FAC-Pc-COFs). Cyclopolymerization of benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']bis[1,4]benzodioxin-2,3,9,10-tetracarbonitrile (BBTC) and quinoxalino[2',3':9,10]phenanthro[4,5-abc]phenazine-6,7,15,16-tetracarbonitrile (QPPTC) in ZnCl₂  leads to the fast formation and isolation of BB-FAC-Pc-COF and QPP-FAC-Pc-COF, respectively. Powder X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy analysis reveal their crystalline nature with sql topology and AA stacking configuration. Thermogravimetric analysis and immersion experiment indicate their excellent stability. The conductivity test demonstrates their high conductivity of 0.93-1.94 × 10^-4  S cm^-1  owing to the fully π-conjugated electronic structural nature. In particular, the as-prepared FAC-Pc-COFs show high-performance K⁺ storage in potassium-ion batteries due to their excellent conductivity, highly ordered and robust structure, and N/O-rich framework nature. Impressively, QPP-FAC-Pc-COF shows a large reversible capacity of 424 mA h g^-1  after 100 cycles at 50 mA g^-1  and a capacity retention of nearly 100% at 2000 mA g^-1  for over 10 000 cycles.

Building Practical High-Voltage Cathode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

It has long been a global imperative to develop high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) to meet the ever-growing electric vehicle market. One of the most effective strategies for boosting the energy density of LIBs is to increase the output voltage, which largely depends upon the cathode materials. As the most-promising cathodes for high-voltage LIBs (>4 V vs Li/Li⁺ ), four major categories of cathodes including lithium-rich layered oxides, nickel-rich layered oxides, spinel oxides, and high-voltage polyanionic compounds still encounter severe challenges to realize the improvement of output voltage while maintaining high capacity, fast rate capability, and long service life. This review focuses on the key links in the development of high-voltage cathode materials from the lab to industrialization. First, the failure mechanisms of the four kinds of materials are clarified, and the optimization strategies, particularly solutions that are easy for large-scale production, are considered. Then, to bridge the gap between lab and industry, the cost management, safety assessment, practical battery-performance evaluation, and sustainability of the battery technologies, are discussed. Finally, tough challenges and promising strategies for the commercialization of high-voltage cathode materials are summarized to promote the large-scale application of LIBs with high energy densities.

In Situ Polymerization of Ionic Liquid with Tunable Phase Separation for Highly Reversible and Ultralong Cycle Life Zn-Ion Battery

Severe Zn dendrite growth and side reactions greatly limit the application of aqueous zinc-ion batteries. Herein, we design a layer of polyionic liquid (PCAVImBr) film with a tunable pore size and charge density on the Zn anode to endow homogenized distribution of an electronic field, acerated Zn²⁺ permeation, and inhabitation of water entry. Such an optimal combination is achieved via a polymerization induced phase separation strategy, where the enhanced cross-linking density arrests the phase separation in a shallow depth and vice versa. Furthermore, the Zn@PCAVImBr electrode has good plating/stripping reversibility, which retains a 99.6% CE efficiency after 3000 cycles. The symmetric cells can achieve a cycle life of more than 2400 h at different current densities. It is worth mentioning that the NVO//Zn@PCAVImBr full cell can still reach a 91.2% capacity retention after nearly 4000 cycles at a high current of 10 A g^-1, and provides new insights for the future research of zinc-ion battery anodes.

Real-space measurement of orbital electron populations for Li1-xCoO2

The operation of lithium-ion batteries involves electron removal from and filling into the redox orbitals of cathode materials, experimentally probing the orbital electron population thus is highly desirable to resolve the redox processes and charge compensation mechanism. Here, we combine quantitative convergent-beam electron diffraction with high-energy synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction to quantify the orbital populations of Co and O in the archetypal cathode material LiCoO₂. The results indicate that removing Li ions from LiCoO₂ decreases Co t_2g orbital population, and the intensified covalency of Co-O bond upon delithiation enables charge transfer from O 2p orbital to Co e_g orbital, leading to increased Co e_g orbital population and oxygen oxidation. Theoretical calculations verify these experimental findings, which not only provide an intuitive picture of the redox reaction process in real space, but also offer a guidance for designing high-capacity electrodes by mediating the covalency of the TM-O interactions.

A Competitive Solvation of Ternary Eutectic Electrolytes Tailoring the Electrode/Electrolyte Interphase for Lithium Metal Batteries

The development of electrolytes with high safety, high ionic conductivity, and the ability to inhibit lithium dendrites growth is crucial for the fabrication of high-energy-density lithium metal batteries. In this study, a ternary eutectic electrolyte is designed with LiTFSI (TFSI = bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide), butyrolactam (BL), and succinonitrile (SN). This electrolyte exhibits a high ion conductivity, nonflammability, and a wide electrochemical window. The competitive solvation effect among SN, BL, and Li⁺ reduces the viscosity and improves the stability of the eutectic electrolyte. The preferential coordination of BL toward Li⁺ facilitates the formation of stable solid electrolyte interphase films, leading to homogeneous and dendrite-free Li plating. As expected, the LiFePO₄/Li cell with this ternary eutectic electrolyte delivers a high capacity retention of 90% after 500 cycles at 2 C and an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.8%. Moreover, Ni-rich LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Al_0.1O₂/Li and LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂/Li cells based on the modified ternary eutectic electrolyte achieve an outstanding cycling performance. This study provides insights for understanding and designing better electrolytes for lithium metal batteries and analogous sodium/potassium metal batteries.