Supramolecular Polymer Ion Conductor with Weakened Li Ion Solvation Enables Room Temperature All-Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries

Improved durability, enhanced interfacial stability, and room temperature applicability are desirable properties for all-solid-state lithium metal batteries (ASSLMBs), yet these desired properties are rarely achieved simultaneously. Here, in this work, it is noticed that the huge resistance at Li metal/electrolyte interface dominantly impeded the normal cycling of ASSLMBs especially at around room temperature (<30 °C). Accordingly, a supramolecular polymer ion conductor (SPC) with “weak solvation” of Li⁺ was prepared. Benefiting from the halogen-bonding interaction between the electron-deficient iodine atom (on 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene) and electron-rich oxygen atoms (on ethylene oxide), the O-Li⁺ coordination was significantly weakened. Therefore, the SPC achieves rapid Li⁺ transport with high Li⁺ transference number, and importantly, derives a unique Li₂O-rich SEI with low interfacial resistance on lithium metal surface, therefore enabling stable cycling of ASSLMBs even down to 10 °C. This work is a new exploration of halogen-bonding chemistry in solid polymer electrolyte and highlights the importance of “weak solvation” of Li⁺ in the solid-state electrolyte for room temperature ASSLMBs.     

Bio-Inspired Polyanionic Electrolytes for Highly Stable Zinc-Ion Batteries

For zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs), the non-uniform Zn plating/stripping results in a high polarization and low Coulombic efficiency (CE), hindering the large-scale application of ZIBs. Here, inspired by biomass seaweed plants, an anionic polyelectrolyte alginate acid (SA) was used to initiate the in situ formation of the high-performance solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer on the Zn anode. Attribute to the anionic groups of −COO⁻, the affinity of Zn²⁺ ions to alginate acid induces a well-aligned accelerating channel for uniform plating. This SEI regulates the desolvation structure of Zn²⁺ and facilitates the formation of compact Zn (002) crystal planes. Even under high depth of discharge conditions (DOD), the SA-coated Zn anode still maintains a stable Zn stripping/plating behavior with a low potential difference (0.114 V). According to the classical nucleation theory, the nucleation energy for SA-coated Zn is 97 % less than that of bare Zn, resulting in a faster nucleation rate. The Zn||Cu cell assembled with the SA-coated electrode exhibits an outstanding average CE of 99.8 % over 1,400 cycles. The design is successfully demonstrated in pouch cells, where the SA-coated Zn exhibits capacity retention of 96.9 % compared to 59.1 % for bare Zn anode, even under the high cathode mass loading (>10 mg/cm²).     

稳定锂电化学沉积和溶解行为的LiC6异质微结构界面层

本文采用机械辊压方法在金属锂表面通过原位固相反应生成LiC₆异质微结构界面层,并研究了在碳酸酯有机电解液体系下该异质层对锂电化学沉积和溶解行为的影响。通过形貌表征与电化学测试发现,LiC₆异质层能够有效提升锂电化学沉积的可逆性与均匀性,从而抑制枝晶生长及维持沉积/溶解界面的稳定。使用异质层改性金属锂负极的扣式全电池也较纯金属锂负极体系表现出更为优异的循环稳定性。     

锂金属负极的挑战与改善策略研究进展

锂金属由于其高比容量和低电极电势等优点被认为是下一代高比能量电池体系中最有潜力的负极材料。然而由于锂金属的高活性,锂负极在循环过程中会产生大量的枝晶,导致SEI(solid-electrolyte interphase)破裂,并且枝晶增加了电极与电解液的接触面积,使得副反应进一步增加。此外,脱落的枝晶形成死锂,从而降低电池的充放电库仑效率。并且不可控的锂枝晶持续生长会刺穿隔膜引发电池短路,伴随着电池热失控等安全问题。本综述基于锂负极存在的主要挑战,结合理解锂枝晶的成核生长模型等机理总结并深度分析近些年来在液态和固态电解质体系中改善锂金属负极的主要策略及其作用机理,为促进高比能量锂金属电池的应用提供借鉴参考作用。     

新型锂离子电池电解液添加剂的合成与应用

设计并合成了一系列基于苯环和环状碳酸酯的有机分子双(2,3-环碳酸甘油酯)对苯二甲酸酯、三(2,3-环碳酸甘油酯)均苯三甲酸酯和四(2,3-环碳酸甘油酯)均苯四甲酸酯,采用倍率测试、恒流充放电测试、交流阻抗测试和扫描电子显微镜测试等手段研究了这些添加剂对锂离子电池性能的影响.通过对循环20周前后球化石墨电极形貌的对比,发现含均苯四甲酸酯和均苯三甲酸酯的电解液球化石墨电极表面相对于空白电解液可形成一层致密而稳定的固体电解质中间相膜(SEI),从而优化电极-电解液的界面性能,且电池电阻增加较小;在测试电池的倍率性能时发现,均苯四甲酸酯的加入可以改善电池的倍率性能,而对苯二甲酸酯的加入则未能改善电池的循环性能.     

ANALYSIS OF A SUSCEPTIBLE-EXPOSED-INFECTED EPIDEMIC MODEL WITH RANDOM PERTURBATION AND VARYING POPULATION SIZE

In this paper, we study a type of susceptible-exposed-infected (SEI) epidemic model with varying population size and introduce the random perturbation of the constant contact rate into the SEI epidemic model due to the universal existence of fluctuations. Under some moderate conditions, the density of the exposed and the infected individuals exponentially approaches zero almost surely are derived. Furthermore, the stochastic SEI epidemic model admits a stationary distribution around the endemic equilibrium, and the solution is ergodic. Some numerical simulations are carried out to demonstrate the efficiency of the main results.     

TG-MS analysis on thermal decomposable components in the SEI film on Cr2O3 powder anode in Li-ion batteries

The thermal decomposable species in the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) film on Cr₂O₃ powder anode at different lithiated and delithiated states in the first cycle were analyzed by thermogravimetry and mass spectrometry (TG-MS) technique. The weight loss ratio in a fully lithiated Cr₂O₃ electrode during TG measurement at 50–500 °C is 8.9 wt%, which is decreased to 1.5 wt% for a fully delithiated Cr₂O₃ electrode. This indicates that the SEI film on Cr₂O₃ powder anode is decomposed electrochemically upon delithiation. The main gas products are CH₂=CH₂, CO₂, and CH₃-containing volatile species in thermal reaction. They are released step-by-step in four characteristic temperature regions, which were originated mainly from oligomer and polyethylene-oxide-like species, partly from ROCO₂Li. It is also observed that the amount of thermal decomposable components in the SEI film on the fully lithiated Cr₂O₃ powder electrode is much higher than that on graphite and hard carbon anodes, indicating different SEI features of transition metal oxide anodes.     

二氟二草酸硼酸锂对LiFePO4/石墨电池高温性能的影响

研究了二氟二草酸硼酸锂(LiODFB)作为锂盐加入到碳酸丙烯酯(PC)+碳酸乙烯酯(EC)+碳酸甲乙酯(EMC)(质量比为1:1:3)混合溶剂中对LiFePO4/石墨电池高温(60 ℃)循环性能的影响. 用线性扫描伏安法(LSV)测试了电解液的电化学窗口. 通过等离子发射光谱(ICP)和能量散射光谱(EDS)对LiFePO4材料高温条件下在不同电解液中的稳定性进行了研究; 并用扫描电镜(SEM)和电化学交流阻抗谱(EIS)分析了石墨负极表面的固体电解液相界面(SEI)膜的热稳定性. 结果表明: 一方面LiODFB基电解液能抑制LiFePO4材料在高温条件下Fe(II)的溶解, 防止溶解的Fe(II)在石墨上还原, 有效地降低电池阻抗; 另一方面, 在LiODFB基电解液中形成的石墨负极表面SEI膜具有更好的热稳定性, 能显著提高LiFePO4/石墨电池的高温循环性能.     

A theory and a simulation capability for the growth of a solid electrolyte interphase layer at an anode particle in a Li-ion battery

A major mechanism for electrochemical aging of Li-ion batteries is the growth of a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer on the surface of anode particles, which leads to capacity fade and also results in a rise in cell resistance. We have formulated a continuum theory for the growth of an SEI layer—a theory which accounts for the generation of the attendant growth stresses. The theory has been numerically implemented in a finite-element program. This simulation capability for SEI growth is coupled with our previously published chemo-mechanical simulation capability for intercalation of Li-ions in electrode particles. Using this new combined capability we have simulated the formation and growth of an SEI layer during cyclic lithiation and delithiation of an anode particle, and predicted the evolution of the growth stresses in the SEI layer. The evolution of the stress state within the SEI layer and at the SEI/anode-particle interface for spherical- and spheroidal-shaped graphite particles is studied. This knowledge of the local interfacial stresses provides a good estimate for the propensity of potential delamination of an SEI layer from an anode particle.     

温度对尖晶石LiMn2O4中锂离子嵌脱过程的影响

运用电化学阻抗谱研究了商品化尖晶石LiMn₂O₄电极在1 mol/L LiPF₆-EC(碳酸乙烯酯):DEC(碳酸二乙酯)电解液中―10～30 ℃范围内的阻抗谱特征、固体电解质相界面(SEI)膜阻抗、电子电阻和电荷传递电阻等随温度的变化. 研究结果表明, 尖晶石LiMn₂O₄电极的阻抗谱特征与温度有关, 随温度的升高, 与活性材料电子电导率相关的半圆和与SEI膜相关的半圆会发生重叠而成为一个半圆. 通过选取适当的等效电路拟合了实验所得的电化学阻抗谱数据, 测得尖晶石LiMn₂O₄电极在1 mol/L LiPF₆-EC:DEC 电解液中, 锂离子迁移通过SEI膜的离子跳跃能垒平均值为15.49 kJ/mol; 电子电导率的热激活化能平均值为24.21 kJ/mol; 嵌入反应活化能平均值为53.07 kJ/mol.