An Insight into the Lithium Plating – Operando Gas Evolution Study

Abstract

Lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) play a major role in the electrification of transportation systems as a step forward in achieving a sustainable carbon neutral society [1]. Fast-charging is regarded as one of the most necessary features for lithium-ion batteries in order to speed the widespread adoption of electric vehicles [2]. However, we have previously shown that charging LiBs at high C-rate cause the evolution of high amount of ethylene gas along with capacity fade [3]. It is well known that fast charging is also may result in lithium plating and allied parasitic reactions [4]. Since many of the side reactions in LiBs are associated with evolution of products in gaseous phase, operando mass spectrometric techniques can be used to better understand these unwanted reactions. We have developed an Online Electrochemical Mass Spectrometry (OEMS) set-up to study the gases formed on a Li-plated electrode, to provide the fundamental understanding of the reaction mechanism at the electrode/electrolyte interface.