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Improving Cycle Life and Capacity Retention in PVMPO‖Li Dual-Ion Lithium-Organic Batteries Using an EC-Free and FEC
Sathiya Priya Panjalingam1,2, Somayeh Ahadi3, Jakob Michael Hesper1
1MEET Battery Research Center, Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Münster, Corrensstr. 46, 48149, Münster, Germany.
Small Methods
|January 14, 2026
Summary
Freeing lithium ion batteries from ethylene carbonate (EC) electrolytes, especially with fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), significantly boosts performance and longevity of organic redox polymer electrodes.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Electrolytes are crucial for lithium ion battery (LIB) performance and lifespan.
- Organic redox polymer batteries, like those using poly(3-vinyl-N-methylphenoxazine) (PVMPO), face solubility issues in conventional electrolytes (ethylene carbonate/dimethyl carbonate).
- Reducing ethylene carbonate content with ethyl methyl carbonate improves solubility but capacity fading due to PVMPO electrode degradation persists.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate EC-free electrolytes for PVMPO-based LIBs to mitigate electrode degradation and enhance cycle life.
- To evaluate the impact of fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) as an additive in EC-free electrolytes.
- To analyze solubility, interfacial properties, and electrode integrity using various electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques.
Main Methods:
- Electrochemical performance testing (capacity retention, cycle life at 1C for 500 cycles).
- Spectroscopic analysis: UltraViolet/Visible (UV/Vis) spectroscopy.
- Post-cycling surface and compositional analysis: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) mapping, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS).
Main Results:
- EC-free electrolytes with FEC retained 95 mAh g⁻¹, without FEC retained 86 mAh g⁻¹, both outperforming EC-based systems (76 mAh g⁻¹ after 500 cycles).
- FEC-containing EC-free systems showed reduced interfacial resistance and fewer electrode surface cracks.
- Electrode integrity was better preserved in EC-free electrolytes, especially with FEC, indicating suppressed degradation.
Conclusions:
- EC-free electrolytes, particularly those containing FEC, are highly effective in suppressing electrode degradation in PVMPO-based LIBs.
- The use of FEC in EC-free electrolytes significantly enhances the electrochemical performance and cycle life of organic LIBs.
- This study presents a promising strategy for developing stable and long-lasting organic redox polymer batteries.
