Crucial Roles of Ethyl Methyl Carbonate in Lithium-Ion and Dual-Ion Batteries: A Review

The essential role of electrolyte solutions in traditional electrochemical energy storage devices is crucial to enhancing their performance. Consequently, a wide array of electrolyte mixtures along with diverse electrodes have been extensively explored across different models of secondary batteries. Fascinatingly, the role of ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) as a key cosolvent in the electrolyte mixture of commercial lithium-ion batteries with a graphite anode is garnering growing attention in alternative rechargeable dual-ion batteries utilizing graphite cathodes. In this context, the advancement and function of EMC as a solvent in electrolyte mixtures for lithium-ion and dual-ion batteries were extensively and thoroughly examined in this analysis, encompassing the genesis, synthesis process, and diverse characteristics for the practical uses of these batteries. Here, the review aims to guide readers in understanding EMC's function and impact as a cosolvent in electrolyte mixtures for both major secondary lithium-ion and dual-ion batteries, considering their distinct physicochemical characteristics.

Zn-Co@N-Doped Carbon Derived from ZIFs for High-Efficiency Synthesis of Ethyl Methyl Carbonate: The Formation of ZnO and the Interaction between Co and Zn

In this work, a series of Zn-Co@N-doped carbon materials were prepared by pyrolysis of Co/Zn-ZIF precursors under a N2 atmosphere and used for high-efficiency synthesis of ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) from dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and diethyl carbonate (DEC). The Co to Zn molar ratio and calcination temperature were varied to study the physical and chemical properties of Zn-Co@N-doped carbon materials identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and temperature programmed desorption (TPD) analysis. It was deduced that the formation of a ZnO crystalline structure and the interaction between zinc and cobalt providing weak basic sites and strong basic sites, respectively, in different samples significantly affected their catalytic performance. The catalyst activated the reaction most effectively when the Co to Zn molar ratio was 1.0 and calcination temperature was 600 °C. With the DMC to DEC molar ratio controlled at 1:1, a superior yield of around 51.50% of product EMC can be gained over catalyst ZnCo/NC-600 at 100 °C with 1 wt% catalyst loading in 7 h.

CO2 promoted synthesis of unsymmetrical organic carbonate using switchable agents based on DBU and alcohols

Transesterification can be accelerated under pressurized CO₂ and satisfactory activity and selectivity to unsymmetrical organic carbonate can be obtained.

Diethyl carbonate: critical review of synthesis routes, catalysts used and engineering aspects

Diethyl carbonate (DEC) is a well-known linear organic carbonate that has wide applications.