Study of SEI Layer Formed on Graphite Anodes in PC/LiBOB Electrolyte Using IR Spectroscopy

Abstract

Formation of the SEI layer on graphite anodes cycled in propylene carbonate (PC) lithium bis(oxolato)borate (LiBOB) electrolyte was studied by ex-situ Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis in the attenuated total reflection (ATR) mode. The results provide a more refined description of the composition than earlier analyses with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The vibrational spectra clearly show that electrochemical reduction of the BOB anion is a part of the SEI formation chemistry. Carboxylate and/or oxalate functional groups derived from the BOB anion were the components assigned as the ''semicarbonate'' species in the C 1s XPS spectra of the SEI layer formed in LiBOB electrolyte. Reduction of the BOB anion changes the oxygen coordination around the B atom from tetrahedral BO4 to trigonal BO3, e.g., meta- or orthoborate. Based on the combination of electrochemical and FTIR data, we propose that the preferential reduction of the BOB anion versus the PC solvent molecule is responsible for the cyclability of graphite anodes in purely PC-based electrolyte.