Electrolytes Containing Triethyl Phosphate Solubilized Lithium Nitrate for Improved Silicon Anode Performance. Issue 4 (1st April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rynearson, Leah; Rodrigo, Nuwanthi D.; Jayawardana, Chamithri; Lucht, Brett L.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Electrochemical Society. Volume 169:Issue 4(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-04-01
• Subjects: Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.3705
• DOI: 10.1149/1945-7111/ac6455
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4651

Abstract

Abstract : An electrolyte consisting of lithium nitrate (LiNO3 ) and lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate (LiDFOB) in ethylene carbonate (EC), ethylmethyl carbonate (EMC), and triethyl phosphate (TEP) is used to improve the long-term cycling stability of silicon anodes. TEP was selected for its ability to dissolve LiNO3 in carbonates to a concentration of ∼0.2 M. The large amount of LiNO3 combined with the LiDFOB salt leads to a capacity retention of 87.1% after one hundred cycles due to the formation of a relatively stable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). Ex-situ surface analysis reveals that the SEI consists of oxalates, lithium alkyl carbonates, borates, and nitrate reduction products. By selecting two components which are preferentially reduced (LiNO3 and LiDFOB), the SEI is able to inhibit continuous solvent decomposition and allows for improved electrochemical cycling for pure silicon anodes.