Does Salt Concentration Matter? New Insights on the Intercalation Behavior of PF6−${\rm{PF}}_6^ - $ into Graphite Cathode for the Dual‐Ion Battery

Abstract

AbstractA high‐concentration electrolyte is favored in dual‐ion batteries (DIBs) due to the lower onset potential for anion intercalation, higher specific discharge capacity, and better oxidation stability. Inspired by the correlation between the high‐concentration electrolytes and localized high‐concentration electrolytes, it is suspected that it is not the salt concentration but the solution structure of the electrolyte that determines the intercalation behavior of anion into graphite cathode. To prove the viewpoint, a series of electrolytes are prepared by controlling the salt concentration or solution structure and the intercalation behavior of within the graphite cathode is investigated in Li||graphite and graphite||graphite cells. It is found that anions exhibit similar onset potentials and specific discharge capacities in the electrolytes with different salt concentrations but similar solution structures. This study provides a new perspective on designing promising electrolytes for DIBs, which can accelerate the further exploitation of high‐performance DIBs.