High-Voltage Stability in KFSI Nonaqueous Carbonate Solutions for Potassium-Ion Batteries: Current Collectors and Coin-Cell Components

Cu, Al, and 316L stainless steel are the main components of the current collectors and coin-type cells used in the characterization of potassium-ion battery (KIB) materials and are expected to be electrochemically inactive. Herein, their electrochemical stabilities in a nonaqueous potassium-bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (KFSI)-based electrolyte are investigated. In dynamic- and transient-mode polarization, passivation of each metal is observed to occur below 3.9, 3.8, and 4.05 V versus K⁺/K for Cu, Al, and 316L stainless steel, respectively, which are considered the threshold potentials. The composition of the passive layers of each metal is determined using time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry. The passive layers of Cu and Al consist of Cu-O (CuO or Cu₂O) and Al-O (Al₂O₃), respectively, and 316L stainless steel is passivated with an outermost Cr-F (CrF₃) layer and an inner Cr-O (Cr₂O₃) layer. Above the threshold potentials, however, severe corrosion of each metal occurs accompanied by the dissolution of metal ions, which could affect the reliability of experimental results for KIBs using KFSI-based electrolytes.