Enhancing the cycling stability of a carbonate-based electrolyte for high-voltage lithium batteries by adding succinic anhydride

We investigate the performance effects of adding succinic anhydride (SA) to a carbonate-based electrolyte in a high-voltage lithium-ion battery (LIB). The SA significantly improves the electrolyte's performance, especially its stability, for a 5-V LIB with high-potential LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 as the cathode material. The oxidation of the carbonate-based electrolyte is strongly inhibited, with the onset potential of oxidation delayed by ca. 0.5 V, as SA has a lower oxidative stability than the carbonate and thus decomposes first. When a sample containing 3 wt% SA is used as the electrolyte for a Li/LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 half cell, the cell exhibits quite good cycling stability; the capacity fade up to 200 cycles at 1 and 2 C is 90 and 92 %, compared with only 48 and 47 % for a cell containing the standard electrolyte. The electrolyte and cathode are characterized with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, which demonstrate that a stable protective film is formed on the cathode's surface in the presence of SA, resulting in the good cycling stability of Li/LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 half cells at room temperature.