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Updated: Sep 10, 2025

Three-electrode Coin Cell Preparation and Electrodeposition Analytics for Lithium-ion Batteries
Published on: May 22, 2018
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.
Abstract:
Interfacial stability in high-energy-density lithium metal batteries (LMBs) hinges on precise regulation of dynamic interfacial electrolyte configuration. Although inert cations are frequently employed to stabilize Li-metal anode, their interfacial adsorption behavior and the resultant evolution of the electrolyte/electrode interface remain elusive. Herein, using in-situ spectroscopy, we visualized the adsorption of inert cations, exemplified by tetrabutylammonium (TBA+). Furthermore, the inherent anion-lean, solvent-rich interface formed during desolvation was mitigated by the electrostatic interaction between TBA+ and anions. This anion-anchoring effect promotes preferential anion decomposition, thereby suppressing parasitic reactions associated with solvent decomposition. Consequently, the cycling stability and reversibility of Li stripping/plating are significantly enhanced. This work not only refreshes the understanding of inert cations on regulating the interfacial electrolyte configuration, but also highlights the close relationship between the interfacial solvation configuration and the SEI architecture, offering fundamental insights for potential electrolyte design.
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