Argonne National Laboratory

Research Highlight | Center for Nanoscale Materials

Preventing performance decline in Li-ion cells with ether electrolyte
In a PNAS paper, researchers introduces a novel ether electrolyte, 1M LiBF4 plus 1,2-dimethoxyethane, that enables graphite anodes with remarkable capacity retention and cycling stability.
(A) Design strategies for graphite/Li cells, (B) cyclic voltammogram, and plots of (C) initial coulombic efficiency, (D and E) charge/discharge voltage, (F) cycling performance, and (G) capacity retention in different electrolytes.

Scientific Achievement

Test cells with an ether electrolyte solvent (1M LiBF4 G1) and graphite anode delivered 91% initial coulombic efficiency and stable capacity for 400 charge-discharge cycles.

Significance and Impact

The findings pave the way for understanding and modulating the solid-electrolyte interphase generated by ether electrolytes in a broad range of electrodes and batteries.

Research Details

  • A self-terminating heterogeneous layer on the solid-electrolyte interphase yielded desirable Li–solvent co-intercalation chemistry.
  • Operando synchrotron X-ray diffraction and coherent X-ray multicrystal diffraction revealed the intrinsic structural reversibility of graphite during Li–ether co-intercalation.

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2313096121

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