LiF-Rich Interfaces and HF Elimination Achieved by a Multifunctional Additive Enable High-Performance Li/LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 Batteries

Li-metal batteries (LMBs), especially in combination with high-energy-density Ni-rich materials, exhibit great potential for next-generation rechargeable Li batteries. Nevertheless, poor cathode-/anode-electrolyte interfaces (CEI/SEI) and hydrofluoric acid (HF) attack pose a threat to the electrochemical and safety performances of LMBs due to aggressive chemical and electrochemical reactivities of high-Ni materials, metallic Li, and carbonate-based electrolytes with the LiPF₆ salt. Herein, the carbonate electrolyte based on LiPF₆ is formulated by a multifunctional electrolyte additive pentafluorophenyl trifluoroacetate (PFTF) to adapt the Li/LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂ (NCM811) battery. It is theoretically illustrated and experimentally revealed that HF elimination and the LiF-rich CEI/SEI films are successfully achieved via the chemical and electrochemical reactions of the PFTF additive. Significantly, the LiF-rich SEI film with high electrochemical kinetics facilitates Li homogeneous deposition and prevents dendritic Li from forming and growing. Benefiting from the collaborative protection of PFTF on the interfacial modification and HF capture, the capacity ratio of the Li/NCM811 battery is boosted by 22.4%, and the cycling stability of the symmetrical Li cell is expanded over 500 h. This provided strategy is conducive to the achievement of high-performance LMBs with Ni-rich materials by optimizing the electrolyte formula.

Multifunctional Electrolyte Additive for Bi-electrode Interphase Regulation and Electrolyte Stabilization in Li/LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 Batteries

Rechargeable lithium metal batteries (LMBs) with high energy densities can be achieved by coupling a lithium metal anode (LMA) and a LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂ (NCM811) cathode. Nevertheless, Li dendrite growth on the LMA surface and structural collapse of the NCM811 material, closely tied with the fragile cathode-/solid-electrolyte interphases (CEI/SEI) and corrosive hydrogen fluoride (HF), seriously deteriorate their performances. Herein, trimethylsilyl trifluoroacetate (TMSTFA) as a multifunctional electrolyte additive is proposed for regulation of the CEI/SEI films and elimination of HF. For one thing, the TMSTFA-derived CEI film rich in C-O species is conductive to Li⁺ transport and structural stability of NCM811 materials, and the TMSTFA-derived SEI film mainly consisting of inorganics (Li₂CO₃ and LiF) and organics (C-O and O-C═O species) can significantly promote Li⁺ homogeneous deposition and impede the Li dendrite growth. For another thing, the undesired reactions of the solvents and LiPF₆ salt are effectively retarded by the TMSTFA additive. Consequently, in the presence of TMSTFA, the capacity retention of Li/NCM811 cell is increased by 17% after 200 cycles at 1C, and the lifespan of symmetrical Li/Li cells is prolonged beyond 600 h at 0.5 mA cm^-2.