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Title: Exploration of the Detailed Conditions for Reductive Stability of Mg(TFSI)2 in Diglyme: Implications for Multivalent Electrolytes

Journal Article · · Journal of Physical Chemistry. C
 [1];  [1]
  1. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Molecular Foundry. Material Science Division

In this paper, we reveal the general mechanisms of partial reduction of multivalent complex cations in conditions specific for the bulk solvent and in the vicinity of the electrified metal electrode surface and disclose the factors affecting the reductive stability of electrolytes for multivalent electrochemistry. Using a combination of ab initio techniques, we clarify the relation between the reductive stability of contact-ion pairs comprising a multivalent cation and a complex anion, their solvation structures, solvent dynamics, and the electrode overpotential. We found that for ion pairs with multiple configurations of the complex anion and the Mg cation whose available orbitals are partially delocalized over the molecular complex and have antibonding character, the primary factor of the reductive stability is the shape factor of the solvation sphere of the metal cation center and the degree of the convexity of a polyhedron formed by the metal cation and its coordinating atoms. We focused specifically on the details of Mg (II) bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide in diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (Mg(TFSI)2)/diglyme) and its singly charged ion pair, MgTFSI+. In particular, we found that both stable (MgTFSI)+ and (MgTFSI)0 ion pairs have the same TFSI configuration but drastically different solvation structures in the bulk solution. This implies that the MgTFSI/dyglyme reductive stability is ultimately determined by the relative time scale of the solvent dynamics and electron transfer at the Mg–anode interface. In the vicinity of the anode surface, steric factors and hindered solvent dynamics may increase the reductive stability of (MgTFSI)+ ion pairs at lower overpotential by reducing the metal cation coordination, in stark contrast to the reduction at high overpotential accompanied by TFSI decomposition. By examining other solute/solvent combinations, we conclude that the electrolytes with highly coordinated Mg cation centers are more prone to reductive instability due to the chemical decomposition of the anion or solvent molecules. Finally, the obtained findings disclose critical factors for stable electrolyte design and show the role of interfacial phenomena in reduction of multivalent ions.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1379107
Journal Information:
Journal of Physical Chemistry. C, Vol. 120, Issue 7; ISSN 1932-7447
Publisher:
American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 66 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (9)

Novel Design Concepts of Efficient Mg-Ion Electrolytes toward High-Performance Magnesium-Selenium and Magnesium-Sulfur Batteries journal January 2017
Probing electrochemical reactions in organic cathode materials via in operando infrared spectroscopy journal February 2018
Fast kinetics of multivalent intercalation chemistry enabled by solvated magnesium-ions into self-established metallic layered materials journal November 2018
Reversible S 0 /MgS x Redox Chemistry in a MgTFSI 2 /MgCl 2 /DME Electrolyte for Rechargeable Mg/S Batteries journal September 2017
Charge-mediated cation deposition on metallic surfaces journal January 2019
Mg Cathode Materials and Electrolytes for Rechargeable Mg Batteries: A Review journal January 2019
Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction and Oxygen Evolution in Mg‐Free and Mg–Containing Ionic Liquid 1‐Butyl‐1‐Methylpyrrolidinium Bis (Trifluoromethanesulfonyl) Imide journal September 2018
Reversible S 0 /MgS x Redox Chemistry in a MgTFSI 2 /MgCl 2 /DME Electrolyte for Rechargeable Mg/S Batteries journal September 2017
Fast kinetics of multivalent intercalation chemistry enabled by solvated magnesium-ions into self-established metallic layered materials text January 2018

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