Stability effect of some organic and inorganic additions in the EMITFSI–LiTFSI nanocomposite electrolytes for lithium-air batteries

Abstract

Since the EMITFSI/LiTFSI electrolyte possess low viscosity, high ionic conductivity and thermal stability properties, in this study, 1M 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazoliumbis (trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (EMITFSI)/Lithium bis (trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (LiTFSI) based electrolytes were studied for Li-air battery cells. A series of electrolytes was studied with organic compound additions of Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). Nano Al2O3 particles with 50 nm in size were also used in 1.0 wt% as inorganic additive to provide stability of the polymer added electrolytes. The nanocomposite electrolytes were prepared in a glove box under dry argon atmosphere. Porous electrode, Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL), was used as cathode, a lithium disk was used as anode while glass fiber was used as the separator in ECC-air test cell. The cells were cyclically tested using 0.1 mA/cm2 current density over a voltage range of 1.5---4.5 V. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements was applied to investigate the effect of the PVDF/Al2O3 and PEO/Al2O3 nano additives on the resistivity of the electrolyte. After the electrochemical cycling test, the morphologies of the cathodes (GDL) were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis to determine reaction products and lithium compounds during cycling test.