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Title: Rational solvent molecule tuning for high-performance lithium metal battery electrolytes

Journal Article · · Nature Energy
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  1. Stanford Univ., CA (United States)
  2. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
  3. Stanford Univ., CA (United States); SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)

Electrolyte engineering improved cycling of Li metal batteries and anode-free cells at low current densities; however, high-rate capability and tuning of ionic conduction in electrolytes are desirable yet less-studied. In this study, we design and synthesize a family of fluorinated-1,2-diethoxyethanes as electrolyte solvents. The position and amount of F atoms functionalized on 1,2-diethoxyethane were found to greatly affect electrolyte performance. Partially fluorinated, locally polar –CHF2 is identified as the optimal group rather than fully fluorinated –CF3 in common designs. Paired with 1.2 M lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide, these developed single-salt-single-solvent electrolytes simultaneously enable high conductivity, low and stable overpotential, >99.5% Li||Cu half-cell efficiency (up to 99.9%, ±0.1% fluctuation) and fast activation (Li efficiency >99.3% within two cycles). Combined with high-voltage stability, these electrolytes achieve roughly 270 cycles in 50-μm-thin Li||high-loading-NMC811 full batteries and >140 cycles in fast-cycling Cu||microparticle-LiFePO4 industrial pouch cells under realistic testing conditions. The correlation of Li+–solvent coordination, solvation environments and battery performance is investigated to understand structure–property relationships.

Research Organization:
SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Transportation Office. Vehicle Technologies Office; National Science Foundation (NSF); Stanford University
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-76SF00515; ECCS-2026822; 1650114
OSTI ID:
1863763
Journal Information:
Nature Energy, Vol. 7, Issue 1; ISSN 2058-7546
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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