Structure and stability of solvation complexes of trimethyl phosphate and dimethyl methyl phosphonate

The presently used electrolytes in Lithium ion batteries, dimethyl carbonate (DMC), and ethylene carbonate are flammable. Trimethyl phosphate (TMP) and dimethyl methyl phosphonate (DMMP) have been shown to be potential nonflammable electrolytes. Density functional theory is used to calculate the structure and stability of the solvation complexes of TMP and DMMP. The calculations indicate that TMP and DMMP can form a solvation complex of the form Li⁺(X)₄ where X is the TMP or DMMP molecule. Calculations of the solvation energy and bond dissociation energies to remove one TMP and DMMP from the solvation complexes are compared with the same calculations on DMC. The results indicate that TMP and DMMP are considerably more stable than DMC.     

A Designed Durable Electrolyte for High-Voltage Lithium-Ion Batteries and Mechanism Analysis

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) dominate the energy market, from electronic devices to electric vehicles, but pursuing greater energy density remains challenging owing to the limited electrode capacity. Although increasing the cut-off voltage of LIBs (>4.4 V vs. Li/Li⁺) can enhance the energy density, the aggravated electrolyte decomposition always leads to a severe capacity fading and/or expiry of the battery. Herein, a new durable electrolyte is reported for high-voltage LIBs. The designed electrolyte is composed of mixed linear alkyl carbonate solvent with certain cyclic carbonate additives, in which use of the ethylene carbonate (EC) co-solvent was successfully avoided to suppress the electrolyte decomposition. As a result, an extremely high cycling stability, rate capability, and high-temperature storage performance were demonstrated in the case of a graphite|LiNi_0.6Co_0.2Mn_0.2O₂ (NCM622) battery at 4.45 V when this electrolyte was used. The good compatibility of the electrolyte with the graphite anode and the mitigated structural degradation of the NCM622 cathode are responsible for the high performance at high potentials above 4.4 V. This work presents a promising application of high-voltage electrolytes for pursuing high energy LIBs and provides a straightforward guide to study the electrodes/electrolyte interface for higher stability.     

新型导电盐(三氟甲基磺酰)(三氟乙氧基磺酰)亚胺锂及其非水电解液的制备与性能

制备了一种新型含氟磺酰亚胺锂盐(三氟甲基磺酰)(三氟乙氧基磺酰)亚胺锂{Li[(CF₃SO₂)·(CF₃CH₂OSO₂)N], Li[TFO-TFSI]}及其与碳酸乙烯酯(EC)/碳酸甲乙酯(EMC)混合溶剂(3∶7, 体积比)组成的非水电解液. 采用核磁共振波谱(NMR)、 红外光谱(IR)、 质谱(MS)、 元素分析(EA)和离子色谱(IC)等手段对合成锂盐Li[TFO-TFSI]进行了结构表征及纯度分析. 通过差示量热扫描(DSC)和热重分析(TG)对Li[TFO-TFSI]及其电解液1.0 mol/L Li[TFO-TFSI]-EC/EMC(3∶ 7)的热学性质进行了表征. 采用交流阻抗(EIS)、 循环伏安(CV)、 计时安培法及扫描电子显微镜(SEM)等对Li[TFO-TFSI]/碳酸酯电解液的基础物化和电化学性质进行了表征. 结果表明, Li[TFO-TFSI]/碳酸酯电解液具有较好的电化学稳定性; 在4.2 V(vs. Li/Li⁺)以下Al箔不发生腐蚀; 室温下基于Li[TFO-TFSI]/碳酸酯电解液的Li/人造石墨和人造石墨/LiCoO₂电池均保持较好的循环性能, 特别是人造石墨/LiCoO₂锂离子电池循环100周后, 其比容量保持率明显高于相应的基于LiPF₆/碳酸酯电解液体系的电池.     

Anti-corrosive Hybrid Electrolytes for Rechargeable Aqueous Zinc Batteries

Aqueous zinc(Zn)-metal cells with cost-effective components and high safety have long been a promising large-scale energy storage system,but Zn anodes are intrinsically unstable with common aqueous electrolytes,causing substantial underutilization of the theoretical capacity.In this work,we report a strictly neutral aqueous Zn electrolyte at a low cost by leveraging the dynamic hydrolysis equilibrium of a dual-salt Zn(Ac)2/NaAc(Ac:CH3COO?)formulation.With the pH regulation,the corrosion and hydrogen evolution encountered in Zn anodes can be suppressed significantly.This hybrid aqueous electrolyte not only enables dendrite-free Zn plating/stripping at a nearly 95%Coulombic efficiency[an increase of 24%compared to that of the single-salt 1 mol/L Zn(Ac)2 electrolyte],but also supports the reversible operation of Zn cells paired with either Na3V2(PO4)3 or iodine cathodes—the former delivers a high output voltage of 1.55 V with an energy level of 99.5 W·h/kg(based on the mass of the cathode),and the latter possesses a high specific capacity of 110.9 mA·h/g while yielding long-term cyclability(thousands of cycles).These findings open up a new avenue of modifying practical electrolytes having targeted properties to stabilize multivalent metal anodes.     

Ultra-stable Zinc Metal Anodes at −20 °C through Eutectic Solvation Sheath in Chlorine-functionalized Eutectic Electrolytes with 1,3-Dioxolane

The brain-storm of designing low-cost and commercialized eutectic electrolytes for zinc (Zn)-based electrochemical energy storage (ZEES) remains unresolved and attractive, especially when implementing it at low temperatures. Here, we report an appealing layout of advancing chlorine-functionalized eutectic (Cl-FE) electrolytes via exploiting Cl anion-induced eutectic interaction with Zn acetate solutions. This novel eutectic liquid shows high affinity to collaborate with 1,3-dioxolane (DOL) and is prone to constitute Cl-FE/DOL-based electrolytes with a unique inner/outer eutectic solvation sheath for the better regulation of Zn-solvating neighboring and reconstruction of H-bonding. The side reactions are effectively restricted on Zn anodes and a high Coulombic efficiency of 99.5 % can be achieved over 1000 cycles at −20 °C with Zn//Cu setups. By prototyping scale-up Zn-ion pouch cells using the optimal eutectic liquid of 3ZnOAc_1.2Cl_1.8-DOL, we obtain improved electrochemical properties at −20 °C with a high capacitance of 203.9 F g⁻¹ at 0.02 A g⁻¹ in a range of 0.20–1.90 V and long-term cycling ability with 95.3 % capacitance retention at 0.2 A g⁻¹ over 3,000 cycles. Overall, the proposal of ideal Cl-FE/DOL-based electrolytes guides the design of sub-zero and endurable aqueous ZEES devices and beyond.     

新型锂盐LiBC2O4F2在EC＋DMC溶剂中的电化学行为

采用差热-热重(TG-DTA)、恒电流充放电和交流阻抗(EIS)分析了二氟草酸硼酸锂(LiODFB)的热稳定性,研究了LiODFB/碳酸乙烯酯(EC)+碳酸二甲酯(DMC)电解液的电化学性能及界而特征.实验结果表明,LiODFB不仅具有更高的热稳定性,而且在EC+DMC溶剂中具有较好的电化学性能.与使用LiPF6/EC+DMC的电解液相比,锂离子电池应用LiODFB基电解液在55℃的高温具有更好的容量保持能力;以0.5C、1C(1C=250 mA·g-1)倍率循环放电,两种电池间的倍率性能差别较小;LiODFB能够在1.5 V(vs Li/Li+)左右在石墨电极表面还原形成一个优异稳定的保护性固体电解质相界面膜(SEI膜);交流阻抗表明,使用LiODFB基电解液的锂离子电池仅具有稍微增加的界面阻抗.因此LiODFB是一种非常有希望替代LiPF6用作锂离子电池的新盐.     

新型锂盐LiBC2O4F2在EC+DMC溶剂中的电化学行为

采用差热-热重(TG-DTA)、恒电流充放电和交流阻抗(EIS)分析了二氟草酸硼酸锂(LiODFB)的热稳定性, 研究了LiODFB/碳酸乙烯酯(EC)+碳酸二甲酯(DMC)电解液的电化学性能及界面特征. 实验结果表明, LiODFB不仅具有更高的热稳定性, 而且在EC+DMC溶剂中具有较好的电化学性能. 与使用LiPF6/EC+DMC的电解液相比, 锂离子电池应用LiODFB基电解液在55 ℃的高温具有更好的容量保持能力; 以0.5C、1C(1C=250 mA·g-1)倍率循环放电, 两种电池间的倍率性能差别较小; LiODFB能够在1.5 V(vs Li/Li+)左右在石墨电极表面还原形成一个优异稳定的保护性固体电解质相界面膜(SEI膜); 交流阻抗表明, 使用LiODFB基电解液的锂离子电池仅具有稍微增加的界面阻抗. 因此LiODFB是一种非常有希望替代LiPF6用作锂离子电池的新盐.     

磷酸三甲酯和碳酸亚乙烯酯对锂离子电池的复合作用

应用循环伏安、交流阻抗、扫描电子显微镜和锂离子电池性能检测装置研究了阻燃添加剂磷酸三甲酯(TMP)和成膜添加剂碳酸亚乙烯酯(VC)对锂离子电池的复合作用.结果表明,复合使用TMP和VC不仅能提高电池的安全性而且能改善电池的循环性能,原因可能是在电池首次充放电过程中VC优先还原,还原产物在负极表面聚合形成良好的SEI膜,有效地制约了因TMP在石墨负极表面的分解而造成负极石墨的脱落,同时提高了SEI膜的稳定性.     

The Effect of Anions and pH on the Activity and Selectivity of an Annealed Polycrystalline Au Film Electrode in the Oxygen Reduction Reaction-Revisited

Aiming at a better understanding of correlations between the activity and selectivity of Au electrodes in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) under controlled transport conditions, we have investigated this reaction by combined electrochemical and in situ FTIR measurements, performed in a flow cell set-up in an attenuated total reflection (ATR) configuration in acid and alkaline electrolytes. The formation of incomplete reduction products (hydrogen peroxyde/peroxyls) was detected by a collector electrode, the onset of OH_ad formation was probed by bulk CO oxidation. Using an electroless-deposited, annealed Au film on a Si prism as working electrode and three different electrolytes for comparison (sulfuric acid, perchloric acid, sodium hydroxide solution), we could derive detailed information on the anion adsorption behavior, and could correlate this with the ORR characteristics. The data reveal pronounced effects of the anions and the pH on the ORR characteristics, indicated e. g., by a grossly different activity and selectivity for the 4-electron pathway to water/hydroxyls, with the onset ranging from ca. 1.0 V in alkaline electrolyte to 0.6 V in sulfuric acid electrolyte, and the selectivity for the 4-electron pathway ranging from 100 % (alkaline electrolyte, low overpotentials) to 40 % (acidic electrolytes, alkaline electrolyte at high overpotentials). In contrast, the effect of the ORR on the anion adsorption characteristics is small. Anion effects as well as correlations between anion adsorption and ORR are discussed.     

Anion receptor for enhanced thermal stability of the graphite anode interface in a Li-ion battery

The thermal stability of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formed on a graphite anode has been enhanced by adding an anion receptor, tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (TPFPB), to the electrolyte. The investigated electrolyte was LiBF₄ in a 2:1 mixture of ethylene carbonate (EC) and diethyl carbonate (DEC). Two concentrations of TPFPB have been investigated, 0.2 and 0.8 M. Galvanostatic cycling and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to study the effect of TPFPB on the electrochemical performance and thermal stability of graphite anodes. The best performance is obtained for a graphite anode cycled in an electrolyte with 0.2 M TPFPB: cyclability is improved, and the onset temperature for the first thermally activated reaction is increased by more than 60 °C up to 140–160 °C. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has been used to examine the composition of the SEI formed in the different electrolytes; the improved performance for the graphite cycled with 0.2 M TPFPB is attributed to a reduced amount of LiF in the SEI.     

锂金属电池用高浓度电解液体系研究进展

锂金属二次电池具有极高的能量密度,是下一代储能电池的研究热点。然而,金属锂负极在传统碳酸酯电解液1 mol·L^?1 LiPF6-EC/DEC(ethylene carbonate/diethyl carbonate)中充放电时,存在严重的枝晶生长和循环效率低下等问题,阻碍了其商业化应用。因此,开发与锂负极兼容的新型电解液体系是目前重要的研究任务。与传统稀溶液相比,高浓度电解液体系具有独有的物化性质和优异的界面相容性,并且能有效抑制锂枝晶生长、显著提升锂负极的循环可逆性,因而格外受到关注。本文综述了高浓度电解液及局部高浓电解液体系的最新研究进展,分析了其溶液化学结构和物化性质,对其与锂负极的界面相容性、枝晶抑制效果、效率提升能力及界面稳定性机制进行了探讨;文章着重介绍了高浓与局部高浓电解液体系在锂金属二次电池中的应用,同时从基础科学研究和应用研究两个层面对高浓电解液和局部高浓电解液存在的主要问题进行了简要分析,并对其未来发展方向进行了展望。     

Empowering Zn Electrode Current Capability Along Interfacial Stability by Optimizing Intrinsic Safe Organic Electrolytes

Metallic Zn is one of the most promising anodes, but its practical application has been hindered by dendritic growth and serious interfacial reactions in conventional electrolytes. Herein, ionic liquids are adopted to prepare intrinsically safe electrolytes via combining with TEP or TMP solvents. With this synergy effect, the blends of TEP/TMP with an IL fraction of ≈25 wt% are found to be promising electrolytes, with ionic conductivities comparable to those of standard phosphate-based electrolytes while electrochemical stabilities are considerably improved; over 1000 h at 2.0 mA cm⁻² and ≈350 h at 5.0 mA cm⁻² with a large areal capacity of 10 mAh cm⁻². The use of functionalized IL turns out to be a key factor in enhancing the Zn²⁺ transport due to the interaction of Zn²⁺ ions with IL-zincophilic sites resulting in reduced interfacial resistance between the electrodes and electrolyte upon cycling leading to spongy-like highly porous, homogeneous, and dendrite-free zinc as an anode material.     

新型锂盐Li[CF3BF3]电解液的制备与性能

制备了1种高纯度的新型锂盐三氟甲基三氟硼酸锂(Li[CF3BF3]),通过核磁共振(NMR)、元素分析(EA)及离子色谱(IC)对其结构进行表征和杂质分析.采取示差扫描量热(DSC)、交流阻抗(EIS)、循环伏安(CV)和扫描电镜(SEM)等方法研究了1 mol/L Li[CF3BF3]-EC/EMC/DMC(体积比5∶3∶2)电解液的物化和电化学性质.结果表明,Li[CF3BF3]基电解液的电导率和Li+迁移数远高于LiBF4,氧化电位高达5.91 V(vs.Li+/Li),在镍电极表面能观察到可逆的锂沉积-溶出过程,并对Al箔表现出优良的钝化性能.研究了Li[CF3BF3]基电解液的电导率与温度和浓度、黏度与浓度的变化规律,以及一系列浓度电解液的相变规律.Li/C半电池测试结果表明,—CF3取代LiBF4的1个F原子后,其衍生产物Li[CF3BF3]明显改善了电解液与人造石墨的相容性.     

Anion receptor-coated separator for lithium-ion polymer battery

Anion receptor-coated separators were prepared by coating poly(ethylene glycol) borate ester (PEGB) as an anion receptor and poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) as a good adhesive material towards electrodes onto microporous polyethylene (PE) separators. Gel polymer electrolytes were fabricated by soaking them in an liquid electrolyte, 1 M LiPF₆ in EC/DEC/PC (30/65/5, wt.%). As the weight ratio of PEGB to PVAc in a coating layer increased, gel polymer electrolytes showed higher cationic conductivity and electrochemical stability. The cationic conductivity and electrochemical stability of the gel polymer electrolyte based on coated separator with PVAc/PEGB (2/5, weight ratio) could reach 2.8 × 10^–4 S cm^–1 and 4.8 V, respectively. Lithium-ion polymer cells (LiCoO₂/graphite) based on gel polymer electrolytes with and without PEGB were assembled, and their electrochemical performances were evaluated.     

Solvent-derived Fluorinated Secondary Interphase for Reversible Zn-graphite Dual-ion Batteries

The irreversibility of anion intercalation-deintercalation is a fundamental issue in determining the cycling stability of a dual-ion battery (DIB). In this work, we demonstrate that using a partially fluorinated carbonate solvent can drive a beneficial fluorinated secondary interphase layer formation. Such layer facilitates reversible anion (de−)intercalation processes by impeding solvent molecule co-intercalation and the associated graphite exfoliation. The enhanced reversibility of anion transport contributes to the overall cycling stability for a Zn-graphite DIB—a high Coulombic efficiency of 98.5 % after 800 cycles, with an attractive discharge capacity of 156 mAh g⁻¹ and a mid-point discharge voltage of ≈1.7 V (at 0.1 A g⁻¹). In addition, the formed fluorinated secondary interphase suppresses the self-discharge behavior, preserving 29 times of the capacity retention rate compared to the battery with a commonly used carbonate solvent, after standing for 24 hours. This work provides a simple and effective strategy for addressing the critical challenges in graphite-based DIBs and contributes to fundamental understanding to help accelerate their practical application.     

Multifunctional Cyclic Carbonates Comprising Hyperbranched Polyacetals: Synthesis and Applications to Polymer Electrolytes and Networked Polymer Materials

Hyperbranched polyacetals (HBPAs) bearing cyclic carbonate (CC) terminals were synthesized from protocatechuric aldehydes bearing bifunctional trimethylolpropane (TMP) or glycerol (Gly) structures and then utilized to design polymer electrolytes and networked polymer materials. Since TMP‐based cyclic acetals (CAs) are thermodynamically more stable than Gly‐derived CSs, the copolymerization of these monomers favors to form HBPAs comprising TMP‐based acetal stems and Gly terminals. Consequently, HBPAs composed of larger amounts of TMP or Gly terminals were separately synthesized by changing monomer feed ratios. Their diol terminals react efficiently with diphenyl carbonate to give HBPAs bearing 5‐ or 6‐membered CC (5‐CC or 6‐CC) terminals. HBPAs bearing 5‐CC terminals were mixed homogeneously with lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide to form uniform films showing lithium ion conductivity ranging from 8.2 × 10^?9 to 2.1 × 10^?3 S cm^?1 at 23–80 °C, whereas networked polycarbonate and polyhydroxyurethane films were successfully fabricated using HBPAs having CC terminals. These results apparently indicate that HBPAs having CC terminals are useful scaffolds to design functional polymer materials. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 2295–2303     

基于阴离子-石墨嵌层化合物的电化学电容器

石墨可以在高电势下电化学可逆存储阴离子,有望在高电压储能器件中担当正极材料.本文介绍了基于阴离子-石墨嵌层化合物型正极材料的高比能电容器的研究进展,剖析了影响电容器性能的各方面因素,探讨了一系列表征相关电极材料储能机制的方法和手段,揭示了溶剂化效应对阴离子插嵌石墨正极电化学行为的关键性作用.并进一步概述了该种正极材料近年来在新型储能器件-双离子电池中的发展态势,展望了其应用前景和即将面临的潜在问题.     

三氧化钼——一种新型有机系钠离子储能器件负极材料

由于锂资源短缺,我们尝试使用三氧化钼作为钠离子储能装置负极材料。通过一种简单的方法合成了三氧化钼,使用XRD、SEM和TEM等测试手段对其物性进行了表征。利用三氧化钼作为有机系钠离子储能器件的负极材料,通过循环伏安和恒流充放电测试探讨了负极材料的储钠机理。以三氧化钼(MoO3)作为负极材料,活性炭(AC)和石墨(graphite)作为正极材料,组装成新型的电化学储能器件,研究了两种器件在1mol/L NaPF6的碳酸丙烯酯(PC)中的电化学性能。两种器件的电压范围分别为0~3.2V和0~3.5V,能量密度最高可分别达到31.6和53 Wh/kg,长循环性能远远优于AC/AC对称电容器。此种储能装置有望成为锂离子电池的一个很好的替代。     

Green Ether Electrolytes for Sustainable High-voltage Potassium Ion Batteries

Ether-based electrolytes are promising for secondary batteries due to their good compatibility with alkali metal anodes and high ionic conductivity. However, they suffer from poor oxidative stability and high toxicity, leading to severe electrolyte decomposition at high voltage and biosafety/environmental concerns when electrolyte leakage occurs. Here, we report a green ether solvent through a rational design of carbon-chain regulation to elicit steric hindrance, such a structure significantly reducing the solvent‘s biotoxicity and tuning the solvation structure of electrolytes. Notably, our solvent design is versatile, and an anion-dominated solvation structure is favored, facilitating a stable interphase formation on both the anode and cathode in potassium-ion batteries. Remarkably, the green ether-based electrolyte demonstrates excellent compatibility with K metal and graphite anode and a 4.2 V high-voltage cathode (200 cycles with average Coulombic efficiency of 99.64 %). This work points to a promising path toward the molecular design of green ether-based electrolytes for practical high-voltage potassium-ion batteries and other rechargeable batteries.     

Non-concentrated aqueous electrolytes with organic solvent additives for stable zinc batteries

Rechargeable aqueous zinc batteries (RAZBs) are promising for large-scale energy storage because of their superiority in addressing cost and safety concerns. However, their practical realization is hampered by issues including dendrite growth, poor reversibility and low coulombic efficiency (CE) of Zn anodes due to parasitic reactions. Here, we report a non-concentrated aqueous electrolyte composed of 2 m zinc trifluoromethanesulfonate (Zn(OTf)₂) and the organic dimethyl carbonate (DMC) additive to stabilize the Zn electrochemistry. Unlike the case in conventional aqueous electrolytes featuring typical Zn[H₂O]₆²⁺ solvation, a solvation sheath of Zn²⁺ with the co-participation of the DMC solvent and OTf⁻ anion is found in the formulated H₂O + DMC electrolyte, which contributes to the formation of a robust ZnF₂ and ZnCO₃-rich interphase on Zn. The resultant Zn anode exhibits a high average CE of Zn plating/stripping (99.8% at an areal capacity of 2.5 mA h cm⁻²) and dendrite-free cycling over 1000 cycles. Furthermore, the H₂O + DMC electrolytes sustain stable operation of RAZBs pairing Zn anodes with diverse cathode materials such as vanadium pentoxide, manganese dioxide, and zinc hexacyanoferrate. Rational electrolyte design with organic solvent additives would promote building better aqueous batteries.

Involvement of dimethyl carbonate and trifluoromethanesulfonate anions in a hybrid aqueous electrolyte enables the formation of a new Zn²⁺-solvation structure and a ZnF₂–ZnCO₃-rich interphase that stabilizes the Zn battery chemistry.