Low‐Temperature Electrolyte Design for Lithium‐Ion Batteries: Prospect and Challenges. Issue 64 (14th October 2021) - Li, Qian
Abstract: Lithium‐ion batteries have dominated the energy market from portable electronic devices to electric vehicles. However, the LIBs applications are limited seriously when they were operated in the cold regions and seasons if there is no thermal protection. This is because the Li+ transportation capability within the electrode and particularly in the electrolyte dropped significantly due to the decreased electrolyte liquidity, leading to a sudden decline in performance and short cycle‐life. Thus, design a low‐temperature electrolyte becomes ever more important to enable the further applications of LIBs. Herein, we summarize the low‐temperature electrolyte development from the aspects of solvent, salt, additives, electrolyte analysis, and performance in the different battery systems. Then, we also introduce the recent new insight about the cation solvation structure, which is significant to understand the interfacial behaviors at the low temperature, aiming to guide the design of a low‐temperature electrolyte more effectively. Abstract : The application of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) in cold regions and seasons is limited seriously due to the decreased Li + transportation capability and sudden decline in performance. Here, an insightful viewpoint on the low‐temperature electrolyte development and solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) effect is given and a new insight about the Li + solvation structure to understand the interfacial behaviors at the low temperature, aiming to guide the low‐temperature electrolyte design more effectively is presented.