Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 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
Electrolyte additive engineering to construct stable interphases with high ionic conductivity for high-temperature
Yanan Li1, Wenzhe Zhang1, Xiaosha Wu1
1School of Chemistry, Engineering Research Center of Energy Storage Materials and Devices, Ministry of Education, National Innovation Platform (Center) for Industry-Education Integration of Energy Storage Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University Xi'an 710049 P. R. China kx210.cam@xjtu.edu.cn dingsj@mail.xjtu.edu.cn gaoguoxin@mail.xjtu.edu.cn.
Chemical Science
|July 24, 2026
Summary
A novel electrolyte additive, 4-trifluoromethylbenzeneboronic acid neopentyl glycol ester (TFMB), enhances high-voltage lithium metal battery performance by stabilizing cathode interfaces and suppressing dendrites, even at elevated temperatures.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Energy Storage
Background:
- High-energy-density batteries require integrating high-voltage nickel-rich cathodes with lithium metal anodes.
- Cathode degradation and interfacial reactions limit performance, especially under high-voltage and high-temperature conditions.
- Developing stable electrolytes is crucial for advancing lithium metal battery technology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a bifunctional electrolyte additive to improve the stability of high-voltage lithium metal batteries.
- To alleviate cathode structural damage and suppress lithium dendrite growth.
- To enhance the performance and safety of batteries under demanding operating conditions.
Main Methods:
- Introduction of 4-trifluoromethylbenzeneboronic acid neopentyl glycol ester (TFMB) as an electrolyte additive.
- Coordination of electron-deficient boron in TFMB with anions to enhance electrolyte thermal stability.
- Formation of stable, inorganic-rich interphases using fluorinated functional groups in TFMB.
Main Results:
- Li‖Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) cells achieved 75.25% capacity retention after 300 cycles at 4.5 V.
- Cells demonstrated 80% capacity retention over 120 cycles at 4.7 V, showcasing outstanding cycling stability.
- Favorable capacity retention was observed at 50 °C, indicating potential for high-temperature applications.
Conclusions:
- TFMB effectively stabilizes cathode interphases and suppresses lithium dendrite growth in high-voltage lithium metal batteries.
- The bifunctional electrolyte additive enhances battery performance under high-voltage and high-temperature conditions.
- This research offers valuable insights for designing advanced electrolytes for next-generation energy storage systems.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Ionic Association
The ionic association is the association of oppositely charged ions in an electrolyte solution to form ion pairs. Bjerrum defined ion pairs as two oppositely charged ions whose electrostatic attraction exceeds the thermal energy of the system, typically expressed as 2kT. Electrostatic attraction depends on ionic charge, separation distance, and the dielectric constant of the medium. Thermal energy, represented by kT, reflects the tendency of ions to move independently due to molecular motion.
01:23Theory of Strong Electrolytes
The interionic forces of the strong electrolytes depend on the solvent's dielectric constant, which is the ability of a solvent to store electrical energy, based on its polarizability. and the solution's concentration. In high-dielectric solvents and in dilute solutions, weak electrostatic forces keep ions apart. However, in low-dielectric solvents or concentrated solutions, stronger interionic forces may cause ions to pair up as ionic doublets despite being fully ionized. The theory of strong...
01:24Electrochemical Systems
Electrochemical systems provide a fascinating insight into the dynamic interplay of charged species within various phases. One notable example is the interaction between a membrane permeable to K⁺ ions but not to Cl⁻ ions, separating an aqueous KCl solution from pure water. As K⁺ ions diffuse through the membrane, they generate net charges on each phase, leading to a potential difference between them.Similarly, when a piece of Zn is immersed in an aqueous ZnSO₄ solution, the Zn metal, composed...
02:21Electrolyte and Nonelectrolyte Solutions
Substances that undergo either a physical or a chemical change in solution to yield ions that can conduct electricity are called electrolytes. If a substance yields ions in solution, that is, if the compound undergoes 100% dissociation, then the substance is a strong electrolyte. Complete dissociation is indicated by a single forward arrow. For example, water-soluble ionic compounds like sodium chloride dissociate into sodium cations and chloride anions in aqueous solution.
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...
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...