Localized High‐Concentration Sulfone Electrolytes with High‐Voltage Stability and Flame Retardancy for Ni‐Rich Lithium Metal Batteries

• Published in: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Vol. 20; no. 38; pp. e2402123 - n/a
• Main Authors: Zhang, Bo‐Han, Chen, Pei‐Pei, Hou, Yun‐Lei, Chen, Jing‐Zhou, Wang, Hua‐Ying, Wen, Wan‐Xin, Li, Zi‐Ang, Lei, Jia‐Ting, Zhao, Dong‐Lin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.09.2024
• Subjects: Electrolytes; gelation; High voltages; interface; Ion pairs; Lithium; Lithium batteries; localized high‐concentration electrolyte; sacrificial additive; Solvation; solvation structure; sulfone; Thermal stability; Voltage stability; gelation; localized high‐concentration electrolyte; solvation structure; sacrificial additive; interface; sulfone
• ISSN: 1613-6810; 1613-6829; 1613-6829
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.202402123

The localized high‐concentration electrolyte (LHCE) propels the advanced high‐voltage battery system. Sulfone‐based LHCE is a transformative direction compatible with high energy density and high safety. In this work, the application of lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulphonyl)imide and lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI) in the LHCE system constructed from sulfolane and 1,1,2,2‐tetrafluoroethyl‐2,2,3,3‐tetrafluoropropyl ether (TTE) is investigated. The addition of diluent causes an increase of contact ion pairs and ionic aggregates in the solvation cluster and an acceptable quantity of free solvent molecules. A small amount of LiFSI as an additive can synergistically decompose with TTE on the cathode and participate in the construction of both electrode interfaces. The designed electrolyte helps the Ni‐rich system to cycle firmly at a high voltage of 4.5 V. Even with high mass load and lean electrolyte, it can keep a reversible specific capacity of 91.5% after 50 cycles. The constructed sulfone‐based electrolyte system exhibits excellent thermal stability far beyond the commercial electrolytes. Further exploration of in‐situ gelation has led to a quick conversion of the designed liquid electrolyte to the gel state, accompanied by preserved stability, which provides a direction for the synergistic development of LHCE with gel electrolytes. A localized high‐concentration electrolyte system is designed with sulfolane as the solvent and applied to 4.5 V‐class Ni‐rich lithium metal batteries. The diluent is involved in the process of forming the interfaces of both electrodes, which shows good prospects for application.