Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 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
Electrode-Electrolyte Interfaces and Hydrogen Fluoride Elimination Achieved by Electrolyte Additive Boost
Tao Huang1, Xiangzhen Zheng1, Ying Pan1
1Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou 350002, P. R. China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|July 5, 2026
Summary
A new electrolyte additive, tris(dimethylsiloxy)phenylsilane (TDSPS), significantly enhances the performance of 4.8 V lithium-rich oxide (LRO)/Li cells. TDSPS improves capacity retention and cell stability by forming protective layers and neutralizing harmful acids.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Energy Storage
Background:
- High-voltage lithium-rich oxide (LRO) cathodes are promising for next-generation batteries.
- Electrochemical cyclability and stability of LRO/Li cells remain significant challenges.
- Electrolyte additives are crucial for improving battery performance and lifespan.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and evaluate a novel multifunctional electrolyte additive, tris(dimethylsiloxy)phenylsilane (TDSPS).
- To enhance the electrochemical cyclability and long-term stability of 4.8 V LRO/Li cells.
- To elucidate the mechanisms by which TDSPS improves cell performance.
Main Methods:
- Electrochemical testing of LRO/Li cells with and without TDSPS.
- Capacity retention measurements at 25 °C over 200 cycles.
- Theoretical calculations and material characterizations to understand additive mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Incorporation of 1 vol % TDSPS significantly improves capacity retention in LRO/Li cells.
- Cells with TDSPS achieved 81.6% capacity retention after 200 cycles, compared to 34.3% for the baseline.
- TDSPS forms protective layers on cathode and anode surfaces and neutralizes hydrofluoric acid (HF).
Conclusions:
- TDSPS is an effective multifunctional additive for improving 4.8 V LRO/Li cell performance.
- The additive enhances cyclability through cathode protection, anode stabilization, and electrolyte detoxification.
- TDSPS offers a viable strategy for developing more stable and durable high-voltage lithium-ion batteries.
Related Concept Videos
03:12Batteries and Fuel Cells
A battery is a galvanic cell that is used as a source of electrical power for specific applications. Modern batteries exist in a multitude of forms to accommodate various applications, from tiny button batteries such as those that power wristwatches to the very large batteries used to supply backup energy to municipal power grids. Some batteries are designed for single-use applications and cannot be recharged (primary cells), while others are based on conveniently reversible cell reactions that...
01:29Concentration Cells
A concentration cell is an electrochemical cell in which the emf arises from a difference in concentration of a species between two half-cells. Unlike galvanic cells, where electrical energy comes from a chemical reaction, the driving force here is the transfer of matter from a region of higher concentration to lower concentration. The overall process is therefore physical in nature. A classic illustration is a cell made of two chlorine electrodes operating at different chlorine gas...
01:30The Electrical Double Layer
In the region where two bulk phases meet, an intricate electric charge distribution arises due to charge transfer, ion adsorption, molecular orientation, and charge distortion. This complex distribution is commonly referred to as the electrical double layer.When a solid electrode interfaces with ions in an electrolyte solution, the speed of electron transfer dictates the rates of oxidation and reduction. The electrode acquires a charge through the escape of atoms into the solution as cations or...
01:30Processes at Electrodes
The electrode interacts with ions in the electrolyte solution at its interface. The rate of oxidation and reduction depends on the speed at which electrons can transfer through this interface. As ions attach to or leave the electrode surface, the electrode acquires a charge, and an electrical potential forms across the interface, making the process more difficult to reach equilibrium. The charge on the electrode affects the local ion concentrations in the solution, though thermal motion...
03:00Electrolysis
In a galvanic cell, the electrical work is done by a redox system on its surroundings as electrons produced by the spontaneous redox reactions are transferred through an external circuit. Alternatively, an external circuit does work on a redox system by imposing a voltage sufficient to drive an otherwise nonspontaneous reaction in a process known as electrolysis. For instance, recharging a battery involves the use of an external power source to drive the spontaneous (discharge) cell reaction in...
01:24Types of Reversible Electrodes
For electrode reversibility to be maintained, all the reactants and products involved in the half-reaction must be present at the electrode. There are several types of reversible electrodes (half-cells).In metal-metal-ion electrodes, a metal balances electrochemically with a solution of its own ions. Examples are Cu2+|Cu and Zn2+|Zn. Metals that react with the solvent, like group 1 and most group 2 metals, which react with water, and zinc, which reacts with aqueous acidic solutions, cannot be...