Electrolyte‐Regulated Solid‐Electrolyte Interphase Enables Long Cycle Life Performance in Organic Cathodes for Potassium‐Ion Batteries

• Published in: Advanced functional materials Vol. 29; no. 5
• Main Authors: Li, Benfang, Zhao, Jin, Zhang, Zihe, Zhao, Chen, Sun, Pengfei, Bai, Panxing, Yang, Jixing, Zhou, Zhen, Xu, Yunhua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.02.2019
• Subjects: Cathodes; Electrode materials; electrolyte; Electrolytes; Energy levels; Light levels; Materials science; Molecular orbitals; organic cathode; Performance enhancement; Photoelectrons; Potassium; Potassium salts; potassium‐ion battery; Protective coatings; Reaction kinetics; Rechargeable batteries; Sodium salts; solid‐electrolyte interphase
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201807137

Organic cathode materials as economical and environment‐friendly alternatives to inorganic cathode materials have attracted comprehensive attention in potassium‐ion batteries (KIBs). Nonetheless, active material dissolution and mismatched electrolytes result in insufficient cycle life that definitely hinders their practical applications. Here, a significantly improved cycle life of 1000 cycles (80% capacity retention) on a practically insoluble organic cathode material, anthraquinone‐1,5‐disulfonic acid sodium salt, is realized, in KIBs through a solid‐electrolyte interphase (SEI) regulation strategy by ether‐based electrolytes. Such an excellent performance is attributed to the robust SEI film and fast reaction kinetics. More importantly, the ether‐electrolyte‐derived SEI film has a protective inorganic‐rich inner layer arising from the prior decomposition of potassium salts to solvents, as revealed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis and computational studies on molecular orbital energy levels. The findings shed light on the critical roles of electrolytes and the corresponding SEI films in enhancing performance of organic cathodes in KIBs. Solid‐electrolyte interphase (SEI) regulation by electrolytes is an effective approach to boost K‐storage performance of organic cathodes in potassium‐ion batteries. The prior decomposition of potassium salts to the ether solvent molecules creates a compact and sustainable inorganic‐rich inner layer of SEI, rendering fast reaction kinetics and a long cycle life of 1000 cycles with 80% capacity retention.