Switching Electrolyte Interfacial Model to Engineer Solid Electrolyte Interface for Fast Charging and Wide-Temperature Lithium-Ion Batteries

Engineering the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) that forms on the electrode is crucial for achieving high performance in metal-ion batteries. However, the mechanism of SEI formation resulting from electrolyte decomposition is not fully understood at the molecular scale. Herein, a new strategy of switching electrolyte to tune SEI properties is presented, by which a unique and thinner SEI can be pre-formed on the graphite electrode first in an ether-based electrolyte, and then the as-designed graphite electrode can demonstrate extremely high-rate capabilities in a carbonate-based electrolyte, enabling the design of fast-charging and wide-temperature lithium-ion batteries (e.g., graphite | LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 (NCM622)). A molecular interfacial model involving the conformations and electrochemical stabilities of the Li+-solvent-anion complex is presented to elucidate the differences in SEI formation between ether-based and carbonate-based electrolytes, then interpreting the reason for the obtained higher rate performances. This innovative concept combines the advantages of different electrolytes into one battery system. It is believed that the switching strategy and understanding of the SEI formation mechanism opens a new avenue to design SEI, which is universal for pursuing more versatile battery systems with greater stability.

Automated summary

This study proposes a strategy of switching electrolytes to tune the properties of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), resulting in lithium-ion batteries with higher rate capabilities and wider temperature ranges. A molecular interfacial model is used to explain the differences in SEI formation between ether-based and carbonate-based electrolytes, providing insights into the obtained higher rate performances.