Fabrication of high Li:water molar ratio electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries

Hydrous electrolytes with high electrochemical potentials were obtained by hydrating water molecules into solutes to form high Li:water molar ratio electrolytes(HMRE).Solid polyethylene glycol(PEG) were e mployed to enha nce the molar ratio of Li+to water in the electrolytes while reducing the consumption of Li-salt.The obtained mole ratio of Li~+ to wa ter molecules in the hydrous electrolytes was greater than 1:1;however,the mass fraction of Li-salt was reduced to 61%(approximately 5.5 mol/kg,based on water and PEG).Compared with that of water-in-salt electrolytes,the mass fraction of Li-salt could be remarkably reduced by adding solid PEG.The electrochemical stability of the electrolytes improved considerably because of the strong hydration of Li~+ by the water molecules.A beneficial passivation effect,arising from the decomposition of the electrolyte,at a wide potential window was observed.