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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
11:04
Synthesis of Ionic Liquid Based Electrolytes, Assembly of Li-ion Batteries, and Measurements of Performance at High Temperature
Published on: December 20, 2016
Ring Strain Engineering of Cyclic Ethers for High-Performance Sodium Metal Batteries
Yuxiang Niu1, Fanbin Meng2,3, Siyuan Li1
1Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|July 2, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a new design principle for stable sodium metal battery electrolytes. By modifying 1,3-dioxolane, they achieved electrolytes that resist degradation and enable long-lasting battery performance across a wide temperature range.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- 1,3-dioxolane is a low-freezing point, low-viscosity solvent ideal for low-temperature batteries.
- However, its susceptibility to ring-opening polymerization compromises ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability in sodium metal batteries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish an electronic-geometric coupling design principle for regulating solvent stability in weak-weak electrolyte systems.
- To guide the design of cyclic ether solvents for enhanced sodium metal battery performance.
Main Methods:
- Introduced a dual-descriptor framework: ring strain energy (RSE) and a sterically corrected electrostatic descriptor (ESPmin/Volume).
- Utilized molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory calculations.
- Synthesized and tested 2,4-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane based electrolytes.
Main Results:
- 2,4-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane exhibited reduced RSE and moderate ESPmin/Volume, enhancing polymerization resistance and Na-ion transport.
- Electrolytes formed aggregate-dominated solvation structures and promoted a stable, inorganic-rich solid electrolyte interphase.
- Achieved stable cycling in Na||Na symmetric cells for 1800 hours and Na||Na3V2(PO4)3 full cells for over 200 cycles at 25°C and 900 cycles at -40°C.
Conclusions:
- The electronic-geometric coupling design principle effectively enhances cyclic ether solvent stability for sodium metal batteries.
- The developed electrolyte demonstrates excellent interfacial kinetics and stable operation over a broad temperature range.
- This work provides a pathway for designing high-performance electrolytes for low-temperature sodium metal batteries.
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