NMR study of electrolytes for Li rechargeable batteries: from liquid to solid electrolytes

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• High-performance energy storage relies on understanding lithium-ion (Li+) interactions in electrolytes.
• Developing advanced lithium rechargeable batteries necessitates detailed knowledge of ion transport and interface phenomena.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy for studying lithium-ion electrolytes.
• To demonstrate how NMR elucidates Li+ coordination, dynamics, and solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation.

Main Methods:

• Chemical-shift analysis
• Multidimensional correlation NMR experiments
• Relaxation measurements
• Pulsed-field gradient (PFG) NMR
• Isotope-exchange NMR

Main Results:

• NMR reveals relationships between local structure and short/long-range Li+ dynamics.
• Studies cover liquid, inorganic solid, and polymer electrolytes.
• NMR tracks SEI formation and evolution at electrode-electrolyte interfaces.

Conclusions:

• NMR spectroscopy is a powerful tool for characterizing Li+ electrolytes.
• NMR findings guide the rational design of electrolytes for improved battery performance.
• This review emphasizes NMR's critical role in advancing lithium rechargeable battery technology.