Influence of Water Contamination on the SEI Formation in Li-Ion Cells: An Operando EQCM-D Study

The interphase formation on carbon (C) anodes in LiPF₆/EC + DEC Li-ion battery electrolyte is analyzed by combining operando electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (EQCM-D) with in situ online electrochemical mass spectrometry (OEMS). EQCM-D enables unique insights into the anode solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) mass/thickness, its viscoelastic properties, and changes of electrolyte viscosity during the initial formation cycles. The interphase in the pure electrolyte is relatively soft (G'_SEI ≈ 0.2 MPa, η_SEI ≈ 10 mPa s) and changes its viscoelastic properties dynamically as a function of the electrode potential. With increasing electrolyte water content, the SEI becomes thicker and much more rigid. Doubly labeled D₂¹⁸O is added to the electrolyte in order to precisely track the reaction pathway of water at the anode by OEMS. In the first cycle between 2.6 and 1.7 V versus Li⁺/Li, water is reduced, and hydroxide ions initiate an autocatalytic hydrolysis of EC. With large amounts of water initially present in the electrolyte, most of the formed CO₂ gas is scavenged by reactions with hydroxide and alkoxide ions, forming a thick, rigid, and Li₂CO₃-rich early interphase on the C anode. This layer alleviates the following electrolyte decomposition processes and slows the reduction of EC < 1 V versus Li⁺/Li.