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Title: Competitive lithium solvation of linear and cyclic carbonates from quantum chemistry

Journal Article · · Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. PCCP
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/C5CP05121E· OSTI ID:1238740
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [3]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  2. U.S. Army Research Lab., Adelphi, MD (United States)
  3. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

The composition of the lithium cation (Li+) solvation shell in mixed linear and cyclic carbonate-based electrolytes has been re-examined using Born–Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (BOMD) as a function of salt concentration and cluster calculations with ethylene carbonate:dimethyl carbonate (EC:DMC)–LiPF6 as a model system. A coordination preference for EC over DMC to a Li+ was found at low salt concentrations, while a slightly higher preference for DMC over EC was found at high salt concentrations. Analysis of the relative binding energies of the (EC)n(DMC)m–Li+ and (EC)n(DMC)m–LiPF6 solvates in the gas-phase and for an implicit solvent (as a function of the solvent dielectric constant) indicated that the DMC-containing Li+ solvates were stabilized relative to (EC4)–Li+ and (EC)3–LiPF6 by immersing them in the implicit solvent. Such stabilization was more pronounced in the implicit solvents with a high dielectric constant. Results from previous Raman and IR experiments were reanalyzed and reconciled by correcting them for changes of the Raman activities, IR intensities and band shifts for the solvents which occur upon Li+ coordination. After these correction factors were applied to the results of BOMD simulations, the composition of the Li+ solvation shell from the BOMD simulations was found to agree well with the solvation numbers extracted from Raman experiments. Finally, the mechanism of the Li+ diffusion in the dilute (EC:DMC)LiPF6 mixed solvent electrolyte was studied using the BOMD simulations.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1238740
Journal Information:
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. PCCP, Vol. 18, Issue 1; ISSN 1463-9076
Publisher:
Royal Society of ChemistryCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 148 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (16)

Assessment of Simple Models for Molecular Simulation of Ethylene Carbonate and Propylene Carbonate as Solvents for Electrolyte Solutions journal February 2018
All-temperature batteries enabled by fluorinated electrolytes with non-polar solvents journal October 2019
Molecular Dynamics of Lithium Ion Transport in a Model Solid Electrolyte Interphase journal July 2018
Structure and dynamics in the lithium solvation shell of nonaqueous electrolytes journal April 2019
Computer simulation study of the solvation of lithium ions in ternary mixed carbonate electrolytes: free energetics, dynamics, and ion transport journal January 2018
Structures and dynamic properties of the LiPF 6 electrolytic solution under electric fields – a theoretical study journal January 2019
A theoretical study on Na + solvation in carbonate ester and ether solvents for sodium-ion batteries journal January 2020
Improved lithium ion dynamics in crosslinked PMMA gel polymer electrolyte journal January 2019
Anion effects on the solvation structure and properties of imide lithium salt-based electrolytes journal January 2019
Structure and polarization near the Li + ion in ethylene and propylene carbonates journal October 2017
An ab initio molecular dynamics study of the solvation structure and ultrafast dynamics of lithium salts in organic carbonates: A comparison between linear and cyclic carbonates journal May 2019
Temperature and Concentration Dependence of the Ionic Transport Properties of Lithium-Ion Battery Electrolytes journal January 2019
Ion Association Constants for Lithium Ion Battery Electrolytes from First-Principles Quantum Chemistry journal January 2019
Exploring Classes of Co-Solvents for Fast-Charging Lithium-Ion Cells journal January 2018
Determination of Mass Transfer Parameters and Ionic Association of LiPF 6 : Organic Carbonates Solutions journal January 2017
Molecular Dynamics of Lithium Ion Transport in a Model Solid Electrolyte Interphase preprint January 2018

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