Overlooked Solid Electrolyte Interphase Destabilization by Oxygen Gas Crossover in High-Energy Lithium-Ion Batteries
Lifan Wang1,2, Junlan Fang3, Siheng Niu1,2
1State Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|April 21, 2026
Summary
Oxygen gas crossover from high-capacity cathodes degrades lithium-ion batteries by destabilizing the anode interface. Using low-permeability separators effectively doubles battery cycle life by preventing this oxygen permeation.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Battery Technology
Background:
- High-energy-density lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) utilize high-capacity cathodes, leading to oxygen release and gas evolution.
- The impact of oxygen crossover on full-cell degradation remains poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of oxygen gas permeation across separators in triggering capacity degradation in LIBs.
- To identify mitigation strategies for oxygen-induced anode failure.
Main Methods:
- Differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) to quantify oxygen transport.
- Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) for interfacial analysis.
- Manipulation of separator permeability to control oxygen crossover.
Main Results:
- Cathode-derived oxygen penetrates separators and attacks the anode, causing heterogeneous solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) growth and mechanical destabilization.
- Continuous SEI fracture-reconstruction accelerates active lithium depletion and capacity fading.
- Low-permeability separators significantly mitigate oxygen crossover, stabilizing the anode interface.
Conclusions:
- Oxygen gas crossover is a critical, overlooked degradation mechanism in LIBs.
- Stabilizing the anode interface via low-permeability separators doubles the battery cycle life.
- This work bridges the understanding between cathode oxygen release and anode failure.
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