(Invited) Electrolytes and Additives to Enhance Low-Temperature Performance of the Lithium-Ion Battery

Abstract

We report the investigation of several electrolyte additives, which has the potential to enhance the low temperature performance of current lithium-ion rechargeable battery. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) power virtually all modern portable devices and electric vehicles, and their ubiquity continues to grow. With increasing applications, however, come increasing challenges, especially when operating conditions deviate from room temperature. While high-temperature performance and degradation has been extensively studied in LIBs, sub-zero Celsius performance has received less attention, despite being critical for batteries in transportation roles. Although many individual processes contribute to the capacity loss commonly observed in LIBs at low temperatures, most of them are governed to some extent by the non-aqueous liquid electrolyte present throughout the cell interior. Therefore, electrolyte engineering presents an unparalleled opportunity to study and address the fundamental causes of low-temperature failure. In this talk, we first outline recent literature on electrolyte-based strategies to improve said performance, including various additives, solvents and lithium salts. Then, we will detail the standard techniques and procedures we used to test the electrolytes and additives at sub-ambient temperature; and will discuss the results of the low temperature performance of new electrolytes and additives tested in our laboratory.