Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2025

Synthesis of Ionic Liquid Based Electrolytes, Assembly of Li-ion Batteries, and Measurements of Performance at High Temperature
Published on: December 20, 2016
Enhanced Ion Solvation and Conductivity in Lithium-Ion Electrolytes via Tailored EMC-TMS Solvent Mixtures: A
Jitti Kasemchainan1, Siriporn Teeraburanapong1, Manaswee Suttipong1
1Department of Chemical Technology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Abstract:
The development of stable, high-performance electrolytes is essential to addressing the safety concerns and limited lifespan caused by the thermal and chemical instability of traditional organic carbonate-based electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). This study examined the potential of mixed solvent systems, specifically ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) and tetramethylene sulfone (TMS), to modify ion solvation and improve ionic conductivity in LIB electrolytes. Through molecular dynamics simulations, we investigated the solvation structure and transport properties of lithium ions (Li+) in these solvent environments. The inclusion of TMS altered the solvation structure, with TMS molecules preferentially coordinating with Li+ ions, displacing PF6 - anions and reducing their electrostatic interference. Our results demonstrated a synergistic interaction between EMC and TMS, where an EMC/TMS ratio of 1:2 led to a significant improvement in ionic conductivity, reaching 0.91 mS/cm, with a corresponding Li+ transference number of 0.40. These findings provide key insights into the molecular-level interaction governing electrolyte behavior, offering guidance for the design of future solvent mixtures to improve the safety and efficiency of LIBs.
Related Concept Videos
Intermolecular Forces
Electrolyte and Nonelectrolyte Solutions
Electrospray Ionization (ESI) Mass Spectrometry
ESI utilizes electrical energy to transfer ions from the liquid phase of the sample into the...
Ion-Exchange Chromatography
Solvents
A...
Intermolecular Forces in Solutions
When the strengths of the intermolecular forces of attraction between solute and solvent species in a solution are no different than those present in the separated components, the solution is formed with no accompanying energy change. Such a solution is called an ideal solution. A mixture of ideal gases (or gases such as helium and argon,...

