Ultra-thin solid electrolyte interphase evolution and wrinkling processes in molybdenum disulfide-based lithium-ion batteries

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 3265 - 10
• Main Authors: Wan, Jing, Hao, Yang, Shi, Yang, Song, Yue-Xian, Yan, Hui-Juan, Zheng, Jian, Wen, Rui, Wan, Li-Jun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 22.07.2019; Nature Publishing Group UK; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: Anode effect; Anodic protection; Atomic force microscopy; Batteries; Electrolytes; Evolution; Interphase; Lithium; Lithium-ion batteries; Maintenance management; Microscopy; Molybdenum; Molybdenum disulfide; Protective coatings; Reaction mechanisms; Rechargeable batteries; Solid electrolytes; Specific capacity; Thin films
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11197-7

Molybdenum disulfide is considered one of the most promising anodes for lithium-ion batteries due to its high specific capacity; however, it suffers from an unstable solid electrolyte interphase. Understanding its structural evolution and reaction mechanism upon charging/discharging is crucial for further improvements in battery performance. Herein, the interfacial processes of solid electrolyte interphase film formation and lithiation/delithiation on ultra-flat monolayer molybdenum disulfide are monitored by in situ atomic force microscopy. The live formation of ultra-thin and dense films can be induced by the use of fluoroethylene carbonate as an additive to effectively protect the anode electrodes. The evolution of the fluoroethylene carbonate-derived solid electrolyte interphase film upon cycling is quantitatively analysed. Furthermore, the formation of wrinkle-structure networks upon lithiation process is distinguished in detailed steps, and accordingly, structure-reactivity correlations are proposed. These quantitative results provide an in-depth understanding of the interfacial mechanism in molybdenum disulfide-based lithium-ion batteries.