Liquid Structure and Anti-Corrosion Effect of Super-Concentrated Electrolyte Solution

Abstract

For realizing sustainable world, Lithium-ion batteries are required to have higher energy density. Aluminum metal have been dominantly used as a current collector of positive electrode. A mixture of ethylene carbonate (EC) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) containing 1 mol dm-3 Lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) has been used as an electrolyte solution. Aluminum forms thin passivation layer on its surface, preventing the corrosion. However, aluminum corrosion may occur due to this electrolyte solution under high voltage condition. Recently, super-concentrated electrolyte solution (SCES) [1], which consists of only two or three times as much solvent as lithium salt, has been attracting attention as a new electrolyte solution of high-voltage lithium-ion battery. Motsumoto et al. proposed that aluminum corrosion was remarkably suppressed in lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI)-based SCES [2]. To clarify the corrosion-inhibiting factor of SCES, we investigated aluminum corrosion in the several lithium salts based SCESs [3]. And we found that lithium perchlorate (LiClO4)-based SCES could suppress corrosion of Aluminum current collector. Liquid structure of the SCES may plays an important role in corrosion suppression. In the present work, we demonstrated Raman spectroscopy and Quantum chemical calculations to reveal the liquid structure of the LiClO4-based SCES.The LiClO4 based SCES was prepared by dissolving LiClO4 into DMC as the molar ratio of 1 : 2. For comparison, DMC solution containing 1 mol dm-3 LiClO4 and neat DMC was also prepared. Raman spectroscopic experiments were conducted using Laser Raman spectrophotometer (NRS-5100, JASCO) installed a laser at 532 nm. Quantum calculations were performed using the Gaussion 9 program suite (Gaussian, USA). Geometry optimization were conducted at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level. An intensive peak is observed at approximately 915 cm-1 for neat DMC. When a small amount of LiClO4 is added to DMC (corresponding to 1 mol dm-3 LiClO4 solution), new peak is observed at approximately 932 cm-1. This peak can be assigned to ClO4 - anion. A new peak appears at approximately 950 cm-1 with increasing LiClO4 (corresponding to the SCES). According to the Quantum calculations, the new peak is assigned to aggregate in which the ClO4 - cross-links Li+. In addition, HOMO energy of a contact ion pair (CIP), in which ClO4 - coordinates to Li+, is lower than that of free ClO4 - anion. The oxidative stability of ClO4 - increases by forming CIP and aggregate. The decomposition products of ClO4 - may affect the Aluminum corrosion. The high oxidative stability of LiClO4-based SCES may prevent the Aluminum corrosion.