Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 10, 2025
10:41
Three-electrode Coin Cell Preparation and Electrodeposition Analytics for Lithium-ion Batteries
Published on: May 22, 2018
37.4K
Regulating Dynamic Evolution of Interfacial Electrolyte Configuration via Inert Cation Induced Anion Anchoring to
Junhao Wang1, Yaopeng Li2, Wenbin Tu1
1State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P.R. China.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|August 26, 2025
Summary
Inert cations like tetrabutylammonium (TBA+) stabilize lithium metal batteries by anchoring anions, enhancing stability and reversibility during cycling.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Interfacial stability is crucial for high-energy-density lithium metal batteries (LMBs).
- The role of inert cations in regulating the dynamic interfacial electrolyte configuration remains unclear.
- Understanding cation adsorption and its effect on the electrolyte/electrode interface is vital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To visualize the adsorption behavior of inert cations at the electrolyte/electrode interface.
- To elucidate the mechanism by which inert cations influence interfacial electrolyte configuration.
- To demonstrate the impact of inert cations on the stability and performance of LMBs.
Main Methods:
- In-situ spectroscopy was employed to observe cation adsorption.
- Electrochemical cycling was performed to evaluate battery performance.
- Analysis of interfacial evolution and Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) architecture.
Main Results:
- Tetrabutylammonium (TBA+) cations were visualized adsorbing at the interface.
- TBA+ mitigated the anion-lean, solvent-rich interface via electrostatic interaction with anions.
- Anion anchoring by TBA+ promoted preferential anion decomposition, suppressing parasitic solvent decomposition.
- Enhanced cycling stability and reversibility of lithium stripping/plating were achieved.
Conclusions:
- Inert cations, such as TBA+, play a significant role in regulating interfacial electrolyte configuration in LMBs.
- The electrostatic interaction between inert cations and anions is key to stabilizing the interface.
- This study provides fundamental insights into electrolyte design for improved LMB performance by linking interfacial solvation to SEI architecture.
Related Concept Videos
01:09Complexation Equilibria: Factors Influencing Stability of Complexes
471
In complexation reactions, metal cations are the electron pair acceptors, and the ligands are the electron pair donors. The stability of the metal complexes depends primarily on the complexing ability of the central metal ion and the nature of the ligands. Generally, the complexing ability of the metal ion depends on the size and charge of the ion. As the metal ion size increases, the stability of the metal complexes decreases, provided that the valency of the metal ion and the ligands remain...
471
02:48Ionic Bonding and Electron Transfer
42.2K
Ions are atoms or molecules bearing an electrical charge. A cation (a positive ion) forms when a neutral atom loses one or more electrons from its valence shell, and an anion (a negative ion) forms when a neutral atom gains one or more electrons in its valence shell. Compounds composed of ions are called ionic compounds (or salts), and their constituent ions are held together by ionic bonds: electrostatic forces of attraction between oppositely charged cations and anions.
42.2K
02:51Metal-Ligand Bonds
21.5K
The hemoglobin in the blood, the chlorophyll in green plants, vitamin B-12, and the catalyst used in the manufacture of polyethylene all contain coordination compounds. Ions of the metals, especially the transition metals, are likely to form complexes.
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
21.5K
03:45Formation of Complex Ions
24.0K
A type of Lewis acid-base chemistry involves the formation of a complex ion (or a coordination complex) comprising a central atom, typically a transition metal cation, surrounded by ions or molecules called ligands. These ligands can be neutral molecules like H2O or NH3, or ions such as CN− or OH−. Often, the ligands act as Lewis bases, donating a pair of electrons to the central atom. These types of Lewis acid-base reactions are examples of a broad subdiscipline called coordination...
24.0K
01:19Complexation Equilibria: The Chelate Effect
659
In complexation reactions, metal atoms or cations interact with ligands to form donor-acceptor adducts called metal complexes. Ligands that bind through one donor site are monodentate, ligands with two donor sites are bidentate, and those with more than two donor sites are polydentate ligands. For example, ethylene diamine is a bidentate ligand that binds through two nitrogen donor atoms, forming a five-membered ring. EDTA is a polydentate ligand that binds through four oxygen and two nitrogen...
659
00:56Extraction: Advanced Methods
528
Metal ions can be separated from one another by complexation with organic ligands–the chelating agent– to form uncharged chelates. Here, the chelating agent must contain hydrophobic groups and behave as a weak acid, losing a proton to bind with the metal. Since most organic ligands used in this process are insoluble or undergo oxidation in the aqueous phase, the chelating agent is initially added to the organic phase and extracted into the aqueous phase. The metal-ligand complex is...
528