Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Electrolysis03:00

Electrolysis

29.8K
In a galvanic cell, the electrical work is done by a redox system on its surroundings as electrons produced by the spontaneous redox reactions are transferred through an external circuit. Alternatively, an external circuit does work on a redox system by imposing a voltage sufficient to drive an otherwise nonspontaneous reaction in a process known as electrolysis. For instance, recharging a battery involves the use of an external power source to drive the spontaneous (discharge) cell reaction in...
29.8K
Oxidation and Reduction of Organic Molecules01:19

Oxidation and Reduction of Organic Molecules

8.8K
Energy production within a cell involves many coordinated chemical pathways. Most of these pathways are combinations of oxidation and reduction reactions, which occur at the same time. An oxidation reaction strips an electron from an atom in a compound, and the addition of this electron to another compound is a reduction reaction. Because oxidation and reduction usually occur together, these pairs of reactions are called redox reactions.
The removal of an electron from a molecule, results in a...
8.8K
Batteries and Fuel Cells03:12

Batteries and Fuel Cells

30.4K
A battery is a galvanic cell that is used as a source of electrical power for specific applications. Modern batteries exist in a multitude of forms to accommodate various applications, from tiny button batteries such as those that power wristwatches to the very large batteries used to supply backup energy to municipal power grids. Some batteries are designed for single-use applications and cannot be recharged (primary cells), while others are based on conveniently reversible cell reactions that...
30.4K
Ladder Diagrams: Redox Equilibria01:30

Ladder Diagrams: Redox Equilibria

676
Ladder diagrams are useful tools for understanding redox equilibrium reactions, especially the effects of concentration changes on the electrochemical potential of the reaction. The vertical axis in the redox ladder diagrams represents the electrochemical potential, E. The area of predominance is demarcated using the Nernst equation.
Consider the Fe3+/Fe2+ half-reaction, which has a standard-state potential of +0.771 V. At potentials more positive than +0.771 V, Fe3+ predominates, whereas Fe2+...
676
Voltaic/Galvanic Cells02:47

Voltaic/Galvanic Cells

62.4K
Spontaneous Chemical Reactions
Spontaneous redox reactions occur abundantly in nature. The chemical reaction occurring in a disposable AA battery powering our remote controls is one such example of a spontaneous redox reaction. Another example is the immersion of coiled copper wire into an aqueous silver nitrate solution. The reaction shows a gradual, visually impressive color change from colorless to bright blue and the formation of a grey precipitate on the copper wire. In this experiment,...
62.4K
Balancing Redox Equations02:58

Balancing Redox Equations

60.5K
Electrochemistry is the science involved in the interconversion of electrical and chemical reactions. Such reactions are called reduction-oxidation, or redox reactions. These important reactions are defined by changes in oxidation states for one or more reactant elements and include a subset of reactions involving the transfer of electrons between reactant species. Electrochemistry as a field has evolved to yield sufficient insights on the fundamental principles of redox chemistry and multiple...
60.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The behaviour of phenothiazines as catholytes in aqueous-organic redox flow batteries.

EES batteries·2026
Same author

Photoreforming of solid waste on 1 m<sup>2</sup> scale using single-source precursor-derived co-catalyst films.

Nature chemical engineering·2026
Same author

Cesium Substitution Disrupts Concerted Cation Dynamics in Formamidinium Hybrid Perovskites.

Chemistry of materials : a publication of the American Chemical Society·2026
Same author

Poly(phosphazene)-Coatings for Stabilizing Silicon Thin-Film Anodes in Lithium-Ion-Batteries.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2026
Same author

Evolution of Charge and Orbital Ordering, and Cation Vacancy Ordering During Electrochemical Desodiation of Na<sub><i>x</i></sub>NiO<sub>2</sub>.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026
Same author

Pore-intrusion of polymeric binder in supercapacitor electrodes decreases capacitance.

Nanoscale·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 14, 2025

Protocol of Electrochemical Test and Characterization of Aprotic Li-O2 Battery
08:18

Protocol of Electrochemical Test and Characterization of Aprotic Li-O2 Battery

Published on: July 12, 2016

11.8K

Electrolyte Oxidation Pathways in Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Bernardine L D Rinkel1, David S Hall1,2, Israel Temprano1

  • 1Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.

Journal of the American Chemical Society
|July 23, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Chemical oxidation, driven by reactive oxygen release from the positive electrode, dominates lithium-ion battery electrolyte decomposition. This finding is crucial for improving battery lifespan and performance, especially in high-voltage applications.

More Related Videos

Identification and Quantification of Decomposition Mechanisms in Lithium-Ion Batteries; Input to Heat Flow Simulation for Modeling Thermal Runaway
11:25

Identification and Quantification of Decomposition Mechanisms in Lithium-Ion Batteries; Input to Heat Flow Simulation for Modeling Thermal Runaway

Published on: March 7, 2022

5.0K
Rapid in-silico Battery Electrolyte Electrochemical Reaction Generation using 3T-VASP Multi-Scale Energy Minimization
05:37

Rapid in-silico Battery Electrolyte Electrochemical Reaction Generation using 3T-VASP Multi-Scale Energy Minimization

Published on: August 22, 2025

496

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 14, 2025

Protocol of Electrochemical Test and Characterization of Aprotic Li-O2 Battery
08:18

Protocol of Electrochemical Test and Characterization of Aprotic Li-O2 Battery

Published on: July 12, 2016

11.8K
Identification and Quantification of Decomposition Mechanisms in Lithium-Ion Batteries; Input to Heat Flow Simulation for Modeling Thermal Runaway
11:25

Identification and Quantification of Decomposition Mechanisms in Lithium-Ion Batteries; Input to Heat Flow Simulation for Modeling Thermal Runaway

Published on: March 7, 2022

5.0K
Rapid in-silico Battery Electrolyte Electrochemical Reaction Generation using 3T-VASP Multi-Scale Energy Minimization
05:37

Rapid in-silico Battery Electrolyte Electrochemical Reaction Generation using 3T-VASP Multi-Scale Energy Minimization

Published on: August 22, 2025

496

Area of Science:

  • Electrochemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Battery Technology

Background:

  • Electrolyte decomposition in lithium-ion batteries limits device lifetime and performance.
  • Understanding complex decomposition mechanisms is challenging due to varied compositions and operating conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate electrolyte oxidation and reduction mechanisms at multiple cell voltages.
  • To elucidate the dominant decomposition pathways in LiCoO2-based cells.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized *operando* pressure measurements, solution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and electrochemical techniques.
  • Employed two-compartment LiCoO2/Li cells with a lithium-ion conducting glass-ceramic separator to isolate electrode reactions.

Main Results:

  • Chemical oxidation, initiated by reactive oxygen release from LiCoO2 at high states-of-charge (onset ~4.7 V vs Li/Li+), is the primary decomposition process at the positive electrode.
  • Identified soluble electrolyte decomposition products formed at both electrodes.
  • Established a detailed reaction scheme rationalizing the observed species formation.

Conclusions:

  • Electrolyte decomposition at the positive electrode is intrinsically linked to the active material's surface reactivity and oxygen release.
  • Findings provide critical insights for mitigating degradation in high-voltage LiCoO2 and nickel-containing cathode materials (e.g., NMCs).
  • Understanding these mechanisms is key to enhancing the longevity and performance of advanced lithium-ion batteries.