Molecular Engineering on Solvation Structure of Carbonate Electrolyte toward Durable Sodium Metal Battery at −40 °C. Issue 18 (27th March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhong, Shien; Yu, Yongshi; Yang, Yi; Yao, Yu; Wang, Lifeng; He, Shengnan; Yang, Yaxiong; Liu, Lin; Sun, Wenping; Feng, Yuezhan; Pan, Hongge; Rui, Xianhong; Yu, Yan
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 62:Issue 18(2023)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2023-03-27
• Subjects: Carbonate Electrolyte -- Desolvation -- Ionic Conductivity -- Sodium Metal Battery -- Ultra-Low Temperature Performance; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.202301169
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

Abstract: Carbonate electrolytes have excellent chemical stability and high salt solubility, which are ideally practical choice for achieving high‐energy‐density sodium (Na) metal battery at room temperature. However, their application at ultra‐low temperature (−40 °C) is adversely affected by the instability of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formed by electrolyte decomposition and the difficulty of desolvation. Here, we designed a novel low‐temperature carbonate electrolyte by molecular engineering on solvation structure. The calculations and experimental results demonstrate that ethylene sulfate (ES) reduces the sodium ion desolvation energy and promotes the forming of more inorganic substances on the Na surface, which promote ion migration and inhibit dendrite growth. At −40 °C, the Na||Na symmetric battery exhibits a stable cycle of 1500 hours, and the Na||Na3 V2 (PO4 )3 (NVP) battery achieves 88.2 % capacity retention after 200 cycles. Abstract : A novel low‐temperature carbonate electrolyte is designed by molecular engineering of solvated structure. By introducing the additive ethylene sulfate, the sodium ion diffusion barrier is lowered and strong solid electrolyte interphase is formed, inhibiting sodium dendrite growth. The as‐fabricated cells exhibit excellent long‐cycle performance at a low temperature of −40 °C.