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Temperature-Inert Weakly Solvating Electrolytes for Low-Temperature Lithium-Ion Batteries with Micro-Sized Silicon
Xiaoyu Sang1, Kangjia Hu1, Jiaxin Chen1
1State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China (X. L. Hu.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|February 12, 2025
Summary
A new temperature-inert electrolyte enables stable cycling of micro-sized silicon anodes in lithium-ion batteries at subzero temperatures. This breakthrough enhances performance and capacity retention under harsh conditions.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Micro-sized silicon (μSi) anodes offer high capacity for lithium-ion batteries but suffer from volume changes during cycling.
- Stabilizing μSi anodes via electrolyte engineering and inorganic solid-electrolyte interphases is crucial.
- Low temperatures impede cyclability due to temperature-dependent solvation and sluggish ion desolvation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel electrolyte for stable μSi anode cycling in subzero environments.
- To investigate the role of solvation chemistry in low-temperature battery performance.
- To enhance the practical applicability of high-energy μSi-based lithium-ion batteries.
Main Methods:
- Introduction of a temperature-inert weakly solvating electrolyte (TIWSE).
- Electrolyte engineering focusing on anion-dominated solvation and weak solvent coordination.
- Utilizing NO3- anions with high donor number to regulate competitive coordination.
- Fabrication and testing of μSi||LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 full cells and 1-Ah pouch cells.
Main Results:
- TIWSE enables stable cycling of μSi anodes at subzero temperatures.
- μSi||NCM full cells achieved 91.8% capacity retention at -20°C and 80.8% at 30°C after 100 cycles.
- A 1-Ah pouch cell demonstrated 89.3% retention at 30°C and 77.3% at -20°C after 300 cycles.
- High specific capacity of 137.4 mAh g-1 at 6C was achieved.
Conclusions:
- Solvation chemistry is critical for addressing low-temperature challenges in lithium-ion batteries.
- TIWSE offers a viable strategy for high-energy μSi anodes operating under harsh conditions.
- The developed electrolyte demonstrates practical applicability for advanced energy storage solutions.
