Solid Electrolyte Interphase Resistance Research Articles

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy Analysis of Dendrite Growth on the Lithium Metal Surface in Polysulfide-Insoluble Electrolytes

Lithium has been widely investigated owing to its high theoretical specific capacity and low electrochemical potential. This is required for high-energy-density lithium batteries such as lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. Recently, Li–S batteries with polysulfide-insoluble electrolytes, such as sulfolane (SL) and triglyme (G3), have attracted research attention because they suppress the dissolution of lithium polysulfide intermediates. However, lithium dendrite growth on the Li metal anode during the charging–discharging process causes an internal short-circuit, which may lead to serious accidents. To realize a Li–S battery, a fail-safe system to prevent short-circuits is essential. In this study, we investigated the cycle degradation mechanism of a Li metal anode in SL and G3 electrolytes using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The changes in charge transfer resistance (R ct) and solid electrolyte interphase resistance (R SEI) of Li–Li symmetrical cells in SL and G3 electrolytes was measured under charge–discharge cycling in detail down to internal short-circuits. Consequently, in both the electrolyte systems, the R SEI and R ct behaviors were disparate during cycling, and a mechanism for the short-circuit process was proposed. In addition, before the short-circuit process occurred, the change in the trend of R ct from stable to increasing was indicative of an imminent short-circuit.

Ester-Based Dual Co-Solvents for Improving Low Temperature Performance of Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery

Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries are widely expanded in electrical vehicles and energy storage systems (ESS) due to their enhanced safety and low cost. However, their low temperatures performance is a major obstacle for their applications. The sluggish Li+ iondiffusion within electrode at low temperatures suppresses the lithiation or de-lithiation process and ion transport through solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), resulting in poor discharge capacity. To overcome these problems, the electrolytes with improved ionic conductivity and reduced de-solvation energy are being actively investigated. Among them, ester-based solvents have been preferred due to their low viscosity and freezing point. In this study, we applied dual co-solvent systems by combining ester and fluorinated ester that decrease de-solvation energy. Due to the reduction of viscosity, charge transfer and SEI resistance, the LFP cell with dual co-solvent electrolytes exhibited excellent discharge capacity and cycling performance at sub-ambient temperatures. Various analyses such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, FT-IR, Raman, NMR, and XPS were used to investigate the electrochemical behavior, solvation structure and chemical composition of the SEI layer. Our study provides new design principles for enhancing the low temperature performance of LFP batteries.

Effect of Heat-Treated Temperature of Non-Graphitizable Carbon on Sodium-Ion Transfer Reaction

Introduction Non-graphitizable carbon has attracted attention as the negative electrode of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to its larger capacity among carbon materials [1]. Structure of non-graphitizable carbon changes depending on heat-treated condition, precursor, etc. [2]. Especially, heat-treated temperature (HTT) has a large impact on the structure of non-graphitizable carbon, such as graphene interlayer distance and pores [3]. Structure of non-graphitizable carbon has effects on sodium-ion storage behavior [4]. In particular, pore structure is the key to increasing capacity, and a large capacity exceeding 480 mAh g−1 was obtained by controlling the pores [5].For practical use of SIBs, it is important not only to increase capacity but also to reduce resistance. The resistance of sodium-ion transfer reaction and its activation energy were larger than those of lithium-ion transfer reaction [6]. Our previous reports found that NaF in solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) had a significant resistance, but NaF affects only frequency factor [7]. In the lithium-ion transfer reaction on non-graphitizable carbon, the activation energy was reduced by modifying the surface of non-graphitizable carbon [8]. Therefore, the structure of non-graphitizable carbon may also affect the activation energy with sodium-ion. Objective In this work, we used three non-graphitizable carbons heat-treated at 1600, 2000, and 2400 ℃ (labeled as HC-1600, HC-2000, and HC-2400, respectively). The interfacial reaction of non-graphitizable carbon heat-treated at various temperature was investigated. In this paper, we reported about the structure of non-graphitizable carbon on the sodium-ion transfer reaction. Experimental A three-electrode cell was used for electrochemical measurements. Non-graphitizable carbon composite electrode was used as the working electrode, sodium metal used as the counter and reference electrode, and 1 mol dm−3 NaPF6/ethylene carbonate (EC)+diethyl carbonate (DEC) (1:1 by vol.) was used as electrolyte. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was performed to form SEI on non-graphitizable carbon. The scan rate and range were 0.1 mV s−1 and 0–2.5 V (Na+/Na), respectively. After CV, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was performed with an electrode potential of 0.2 V (Na+/Na) and AC amplitude of 10 mV in frequency range 100 kHz – 10 mHz. Results and discussion The specific surface areas of non-graphitizable carbons were around 6 m2 g−1, and this result indicated that non-graphitizable carbon used in this work had closed pore structure which could not be penetrated by gas. Graphene interlayers of non-graphitizable carbons calculated by 002 diffraction peak X-ray became smaller as HTT increased. In Nyquist plots obtained by EIS, two semi-circles were observed, and they were corresponded the SEI resistance in high frequency region and the charge transfer resistance (R ct) in middle frequency region. There were variations in the resistance, and this was due to factors such as the amount of slurry applied. Additionally, EIS analyses were conducted at 0.2 V (vs. Na+/Na) in the temperature range of 293 – 313 K. The activation energy (E a) of the R ct were evaluated by the Arrhenius plots (Figure). The values of E a were 52±7 kJ mol−1 (HC-1600), 66±4 kJ mol−1 (HC-2000), and 64±4 kJ mol−1 (HC-2400), and E a of HC-1600 was extremely small. E a was larger for HC-2000 and HC-2400, which had small graphene interlayer distance, suggesting that the structure was involved in the rate-determining step, at least these two non-graphitizable carbons. Conclusion We investigated the sodium-ion transfer reaction at the interface of three non-graphitizable carbon heat-treated at various temperature. The values of the activation energy were larger for non-graphitizable carbon with small graphene interlayer. This result showed the relationship between structure of non-graphitizable carbon and rate-determining process of sodium-ion transfer reaction.

Artificially regulated interphase on natural graphite realizes rapid charge and durable high-temperature cycling of Li-ion batteries

Natural graphite (NG) is a strong competitor in the anode market of Li-ion batteries because of its low cost, rich resource, low energy consumption and low carbon dioxide emission during production. The main problems inhibiting its universal application are its high surface area and the attendant unstable solid/electrolyte interphase (SEI), leading to unsatisfactory cycling and rate performance. In this work, a Li+-conductive, thermally and mechanically stable organic polymer layer is successfully constructed on NG surface by virtue of the simultaneous polymerization and crosslinking reactions of chitosan (CS) and acrylic acid (AA). With controllable thickness, the polymer layer denoted as CSAA significantly decreases the specific surface area of NG, works as an inner SEI substrate greatly mitigating the decomposition of electrolyte, and induces the formation of a LiF-rich SEI outer layer. The SEI resistance and activation energy for charge-transfer reactions are considerably reduced. Benefiting from the superior properties of CSAA-derived SEI, the NG@CSAA anodes exhibit a high initial coulombic efficiency of 94.1 %, fast charge/discharge capability and prolonged cycle life at both 25 °C and 45 °C in the LiFePO4 cathodes-based full cells.

Evolution of aging mechanisms and performance degradation of lithium-ion battery from moderate to severe capacity loss scenarios

The aging mechanisms of Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt-Oxide (NMC)/Graphite lithium-ion batteries are divided into stages from the beginning-of-life (BOL) to the end-of-life (EOL) of the battery. The corresponding changes in the battery performance across these stages have been analyzed, and a digital twin model is established to quantify the primary parameters that influence these aging mechanisms. Post-mortem analysis is applied to validate the results. This paper compares the aging mechanisms from BOL to EOL using two charging protocols: a multi-step fast charge protocol and a common constant-current fast charge protocol that applies the average current of multi-step currents. Notably, a transition from a linear to a non-linear degradation trend in capacity fade is observed, beginning from a 10% capacity reduction to EOL. From BOL to 10% degradation, the resistance of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) grows steadily. The graphite anode’s crack depth exhibits a significant increase, accompanied by an evident collapse of cathode materials in all the test cases following a 10% degradation until EOL. This phenomenon can be attributed to one primary reason—the expansion of the corresponding simulated resistance of charge transfer (Rct). Post-mortem analysis revealed the change in morphology, structure, and composition of various degradation conditions. This analysis proved that the primary driver of the linear aging stage is the SEI growth. Furthermore, it is evident that the transition to a non-linear aging degradation is dominated by electrode defects resulting from continuous mechanical stress during long-term aging.

The Effects of Temperature and Fluoroethylene Carbonate Concentration on the Formation of the Graphite SEI and Its Impact on the Full-Cell Performance

Extending the cycle-life of state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) is, amongst other aspects, predicated on optimizing the properties of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), such as its stability and resistance.[1] It is formed at the negative electrode during the first cycles by electrolyte decomposition and acts as a passivating layer between the electrode surface and the electrolyte.[2,3] Since the SEI formation is accompanied by an irreversible loss of cyclable lithium, its stability during cycling is crucial for improving the charge/discharge efficiency of LiBs. Furthermore, the arising resistance associated with the SEI formation, predominantly depending on the SEI thickness, its chemical composition, and its lithium-ion conductivity, all impact the rate performance of the anode.[4] Two of the most crucial factors impacting SEI formation are temperature and electrolyte composition (i.e., using electrolyte additives).[5] Additives are added to the electrolyte to inhibit the predominant reduction of other electrolyte constituents and thereby form an SEI with improved stability during cycling.[1,6,7] One of the most prominent additives for LiBs is fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), which is preferentially reduced compared to common carbonate solvents (e.g., ethylene carbonate, ethyl methyl carbonate) due to its higher reduction potential.[7] In this study, we investigated the influence of the formation temperature between 10 and 60 °C, as well as the concentration of FEC (2 and 20 %wt in EC:EMC 3:7 wt/wt with 1 M LiPF6, Gotion, USA) on the characteristics of a synthetic graphite (SMG-A5, Resonac, Japan) anode, both in SMG/Li half-cells and in Ni-rich NCM/SMG full cells.We quantified the first-cycle irreversible capacity loss (ICL) in SMG/Li half cells with a lithium reference electrode after two 0.1 C formation cycles and compared the FEC containing electrolytes to the baseline- (LP-57) and an LP-572 (1 M LiPF6 in EC:EMC 3:7 wt/wt + 2 %wt vinylene carbonate (VC), Gotion, USA) electrolyte. Employing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in an SMG/Li half-cell setup with a µ-reference electrode and a free-standing graphite electrode,[8,9] we could further quantify the intercalation resistance (R Int, representing the sum of the charge-transfer and the SEI resistance) after an identical formation protocol at 40 % SOC. Both quantities, the ICL and R Int, increase with increasing formation temperature and higher FEC content.The impact of an increasing R Int on the rate performance was tested in Ni-rich NCM/SMG full cells with a lithium reference electrode, revealing a decreased rate capability and higher susceptibility for lithium plating for cells that were formed at higher temperatures and contained 20 %wt FEC. Additionally, the cycling stability of Ni-rich NCM/SMG full cells at 25 °C was assessed in coin cells. Despite an increased ICL and R Int after formation, cells that were formed at elevated temperatures and contained 20 %wt FEC showed enhanced cycling stability compared to those that were formed at a lower temperature and contained less FEC.Finally, on-line electrochemical mass spectrometry (OEMS) was employed to quantify the evolved gases during the formation of a Ni-rich NCM/SMG full cell containing either of the FEC-containing electrolytes at different temperatures. In accordance with an increased ICL and R Int, a higher formation temperature, as well as a higher FEC content, gave rise to a more pronounced gas evolution during formation.

Li-Ion Battery Material Impedance Analysis II: Graphite and Solid Electrolyte Interphase Kinetics

Li-ion battery graphite electrodes form a solid-electrolyte-interphase (SEI) which is vital in protecting the stability and efficiency of the cell. The SEI properties have been studied extensively in the context of formation and additives, however studying its kinetic features after formation have been neglected. In this study we show the dynamic resistive behavior of the SEI after formation. Via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements on Cu-foil after SEI formation we show how the SEI shows a potential-dependent resistance which can be explained by a change in charge carriers (Li+) in the SEI. Additional measurements on graphite exhibit a similar behavior and allow us to separate the charge transfer kinetics from the SEI resistance, showing that the SEI resistance is the dominating resistance in the graphite kinetics. Measurements on pre-formed electrodes also show how the SEI resistance changes when in contact with electrolyte of different LiPF6 salt concentrations, with the resistance decreasing for increasing salt concentrations. Ultimately, we show that the SEI resistance affects Li-plating by acting as an offset to the plating reaction but does not affect the nucleation overpotential itself.

Non-invasive diagnosis of solid electrolyte interphase and charge transfers resistances for degraded lithium-ion batteries

Modeling the electrical behavior of cells is often complex because several parameters have to be determined simultaneously, which may lead to inconsistencies and inaccuracies. In the present paper, we modeled the “surface resistance” by using a method based on rules of dependence, already presented in the literature, which makes it possible to separate the contributions of the SEI (Solid Electrolyte Interphase) layer and the charge transfers as a function of the temperature and the current. A physical model is able to provide a consistent estimate of the surface resistance values at untested operating points. We transposed this model to NCA (LiNixCoyAl1−x−yO2) and NMC-622 (LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2)/graphite+Si cells and we characterized them for different states of health (SOH). For a SOH of 87%, we found that the charge transfers resistance was multiplied at least by 5.8, while the SEI resistance was multiplied at least by 1.5. As the cell ages, the proposed model should be easier to recalibrate than lookup tables. For that, we propose two methods, one that provides more detailed and accurate results and one that is more practical from an engineering point of view.

Investigating the Change in the Microporous Structure of the Graphite Electrode during Formation

Till today, the graphite-based electrode is the most widely used negative electrode in commercially available lithium-ion batteries (LIBs).[1] While extended research has been conducted in the investigation of the graphite electrode’s properties, especially the formation of the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) within the first cycles of LIBs remains a field of ongoing research.[2] The SEI forms during the first cycle(s) on the anode surface at potentials below the stability window of the electrolyte components, due to the reductive decomposition of the respective solvents, additives, and conductive salts.[2,3] The initially formed SEI has an influence both on the long-term cycling stability of the cell, depending on how good the passivation, i.e., electronic insulation, of the graphite surface is,[4] and on the rate performance of the anode, depending on the thickness of the SEI, its chemical composition, and its lithium-ion conductivity, referred to as SEI resistance.[5] Additionally, with a thickness of 10-20 nm when employing additives such as vinylene carbonate (VC), the SEI takes up parts of the void volume of the pristine electrode and may change the pores and the electrolyte conduction pathways within the electrode (see Figure 1).[6] In this study, we investigated the change of the microporous structure of an artificial graphite (MAGE-5, Hitachi, Japan) with an LP572 electrolyte (1 M LiPF6 in EC:EMC 3:7 w:w with 2 wt% VC, Gotion, USA) during formation at 45 °C. The electrode’s microstructure is often connected to the macroscopic properties using the McMullin number N M in the form of:[7] N M = τ / ε = R Ion ·A · κ / d, (1)correlating the porosity ε, electrodes thickness d, ionic pore resistance R Ion, area of the electrode A, conductivity of the electrolyte κ, and the tortuosity τ (see Figure 1).Here, we analyzed graphite electrodes with varying initial porosities from 20 to 50 %, employing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in a MAGE//Li half-cell setup with a micro-reference electrode and a free-standing graphite electrode.[8,9] Measuring EIS at temperatures of -5 °C allowed the reliable determination of the ionic resistance before and after formation. Due to the formed SEI covering the graphite particles and partially filling the void of the porous electrode, we discovered an increase of the ionic pore resistance throughout the whole range of initial porosities.Next, we determined a porosity dependent increase in thickness of the electrodes from electrodes cycled at the same conditions in coin cells that were subsequently harvested from the cells and analyzed for thickness changes. Additionally, mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) was used to determine the porosity of formed graphite electrodes, revealing a decrease in porosity after formation for all samples. The combination of these findings - using Equation 1 as described above with a constant electrode area A and assuming a constant electrolyte conductivity κ - allowed us to evaluate the change in the tortuosity of the graphite electrodes, giving insights into the overall changes in the graphite anode properties due to SEI formation.

Understanding the Electrolyte Chemistry Induced Enhanced Stability of Si Anodes in Li-Ion Batteries based on Physico-Chemical Changes, Impedance, and Stress Evolution during SEI Formation

The volume expansion/contraction of Si-based anodes during electrochemical lithiation/delithiation cycles causes a loss in mechanical integrity and accrued instability of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer, culminating into capacity fade. Electrolyte additives like fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) improve SEI stability, but the associated causes still under debate. This work reveals some of the roles of FEC via post-mortem observations/analyses, operando stress measurements and a comprehensive study of the impedance associated with the formation/evolution of SEI during lithiation/delithiation. Usage of 10 vol.% FEC as electrolyte additive leads to significant improvements in cyclic stability, Coulombic efficiency and facilitates smoother/compact/crack-free surface/SEI, in contrast to the cracked/pitted/uneven surface upon non-usage of FEC. Operando stress measurements during SEI formation reveal compressive stress development, followed by loss in mechanical integrity, upon non-usage of electrolyte additive, in contrast to insignificant stress development associated with SEI formation upon usage of FEC. The EIS model proposed here facilitates good fit with the impedance data at all states-of-charges, with the SEI resistance and capacitance exhibiting expected variations with cycling and the SEI resistance progressively decreasing with cycle number in the presence of FEC. By contrast, in the absence of FEC, severe fluctuations observed with the SEI resistance and capacitance indicate instability.

Conveniently Revealing Lithium-Ion Battery Reaction Kinetics Using Nonlinear Frequency Response Analysis

Nonlinear Frequency Response Analysis (NFRA) can be considered a nonlinear modification of galvanostatic EIS. Due to an increased AC excitation, higher harmonics are additionally present in the voltage response of the cell [1]. Here, a single particle model (SPM) [2] in the frequency domain is used for the simulation of the NFR of lithium-ion batteries (LiB). The time-dependent processes (double-layer charging, solid diffusion) are linear in currently available SPMs. Hence, they can be described algebraically as impedances in the frequency domain. From the nonlinear, time-independent equations (Butler-Volmer, Nernst), for the case of sinusoidal excitations, a system of algebraic equations for the fundamental and higher harmonics up to a freely selectable order N is derived. By combining these systems with the impedances, we obtain a still nonlinear SPM in the frequency domain, which can be solved in a purely algebraic way for the higher harmonics. The proposed model enables researchers to conveniently analyze the NFR of LiBs. This is especially beneficial for investigations of the reaction kinetics since charge transfer coefficients can be obtained directly by parameterizing the model with NFR measurements.The abilities of the model are shown with two exemplary cell setups. At first, a symmetric cell built from metallic lithium is analyzed. The measured impedance is used to parameterize a simple equivalent circuit model (ECM), including transport through the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). The resulting exchange current densities are used within the frequency domain SPM, which represents a nonlinear version of the ECM. Subsequently, the charge transfer coefficients of the plating/stripping reaction can be obtained conveniently by comparing the NFR measurements with the SPM response. Since the sum of obtained charge transfer coefficients is smaller than one, they are interpreted in the sense of Marcus-Hush-Chidsey kinetics [3], which is possible within a certain range of overpotential. This leads to a distinct value for the solvent reorganization energy. The calculated value is in coincidence with literature values, which are relying on high scan rate CVs with ultramicroelectrodes [4].Secondly, a full pouch cell (NMC622/Graphite) was analyzed in a similar manner. Even though the SPM cannot capture microstructural effects of the porous electrode, a sufficient fit for the EIS measurement was found. After a subsequent parameterization of the charge transfer coefficients, the NFR measurement and simulation again agree well. The resulting values for intercalation reorganization energies at the graphite anode and NMC cathode are even lower than for the plating/stripping reaction. The reorganization energies could not be validated due to the lack of literature values. However, available values for LFP [5] and a value based on unpublished data for graphite [6], are also lower compared to the plating/stripping reaction.The proposed method is very promising since it can directly capture the complete nonlinear kinetics of an electrode. Due to the frequency dependence of LiBs, the separation of kinetic and diffusive effects remains as convenient as it is for EIS.If reorganization energies are considered as given, two persistent challenges in EIS analysis could be tackled: The separation of SEI resistance and charge transfer resistance since the latter is considered as nonlinear. In addition, the ionic transport resistance and charge transfer resistance could be separated for the same reason.In the future, microstructural effects should be integrated into the model. Vidaković-Koch, T.; Miličić, T.; Živković, L. A.; Chan, H. S.; Krewer, U.; Petkovska, M. Nonlinear Frequency Response Analysis: A Recent Review and Perspectives. Opin. Electrochem. 2021, 30, 100851. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.COELEC.2021.100851.Ning, G.; Popov, B. N. Cycle Life Modeling of Lithium-Ion Batteries. Electrochem. Soc. 2004, 151 (10), A1584. https://doi.org/10.1149/1.1787631/XML.Henstridge, M. C.; Laborda, E.; Rees, N. V.; Compton, R. G. Marcus–Hush–Chidsey Theory of Electron Transfer Applied to Voltammetry: A Review. Acta 2012, 84, 12–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ELECTACTA.2011.10.026.Boyle, D. T.; Kong, X.; Pei, A.; Rudnicki, P. E.; Shi, F.; Huang, W.; Bao, Z.; Qin, J.; Cui, Y. Transient Voltammetry with Ultramicroelectrodes Reveals the Electron Transfer Kinetics of Lithium Metal Anodes. ACS Energy Lett. 2020, 5 (3), 701–709. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.0c00031.Bai, P.; Bazant, M. Z. Charge Transfer Kinetics at the Solid-Solid Interface in Porous Electrodes. Commun. 2014, 5 (1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms4585.Gao, T.; Han, Y.; Fraggedakis, D.; Das, S.; Zhou, T.; Yeh, C. N.; Xu, S.; Chueh, W. C.; Li, J.; Bazant, M. Z. Interplay of Lithium Intercalation and Plating on a Single Graphite Particle. Joule 2021, 5 (2), 393–414. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JOULE.2020.12.020. Figure 1

Concentrated Electrolyte for Stable Lithium Metal Anode

Secondary lithium-ion batteries have been widely used as energy storage systems for portable electronics and electric vehicles. Instead of applying graphite as the anode, lithium (Li) metal has an ultrahigh theoretical capacity (3860 mAh/g) that could significantly increase battery’s energy density. Li dendrite formation is considered the main issue when using Li-metal anodes. Therefore, anode-free batteries are suggested as a solution to this obstacle. However, the major problem with anode-free batteries is their inferior cycling performance than reported lithium metal batteries, resulting from the formation of a fragile and fractured Solid-Electrolyte Interphase (SEI).To establish a robust SEI, novel lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulphonyl)imide (LiTFSI) and LiNO3-based electrolytes with four different ratios were prepared in the co-solvent system (1,3-dioxolane and 1,2-dimethoxyethane). Compared to the other three electrolytes, concentrated electrolyte (4M LiTFSI + 2 wt.% LiNO3 or 4+2) in Li||LiFePO4 cells indicated the highest initial discharge capacity of 154 mAh/g with a capacity retention of 78% after 50 cycles. Scanning electron microscopy was conducted to investigate the SEI morphology after the initial charge/discharge process. The deposited Li on the Li metal was highly dense, and no spiky or needle-like Li clusters were detected. Additionally, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of the cells was measured after 1, 3, 5, and 10 cycles, respectively. The cells with 4+2 showed the smallest SEI resistance after different cycles, corresponding to a stable and less-resistive SEI formation.

Formation and Aging of the Solid Electrolyte Interphase on Lithium in Bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide-Type Ionic Liquids

The formation and aging of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formed on a Li and Cu electrode in two bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide (FSA–)-type ionic liquids (ILs), 1-methyl-1-butylpyrrolidinium bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide and 1-methyl-1-methoxyethylpyrrolidinium bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide, containing a high concentration of LiFSA were investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy. The intensity of peaks corresponding to the decomposition of the electrolyte in XPS spectra changed with time. The thicknesses of the SEI formed on a Cu electrode in both ILs were estimated to be 20–100 nm by TEM observation. The resistance of SEI increased with the lapse of time although the change in the thickness of the SEI was small, suggesting the aging of the SEI in the ILs was considered to depend on the composition of the SEI rather than the thickness of the SEI. The Li deposits shrank during dissolution. The Li anode became sparse and porous after deposition and dissolution cycles, probably due to the inhomogeneous reaction through the aged SEI. The SEI formation on the surface of the porous deposits was considered to lead to an increase in the polarization and the isolation of the deposits, i.e., the formation of “dead lithium”.

Fluorinated ether-based co-solvent electrolytes for lithium-metal batteries: High ionic conductivity and suppressed dissolution of fragmented anions

Advanced electrolyte solutions for lithium (Li) metal batteries have been developed to improve their comparability with Li electrodes and enhance high oxidative stability. While the solvation structures of Li+ are critical for determining the quality of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer and cyclability, there is limited understanding of these correlations for co-solvent systems and long-term cycles. Herein, we investigate the role of fluorinated ether-based co-solvents consisting of 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoro-1,4-dimethoxylbutane (FDMB) and 1,2-diethoxyethane (DEE) with 1 M lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiFSI). FDMB exhibits high oxidative stability and low flammability, and the addition of DEE improves ionic conductivity by sharing Li+ coordination with FDMB. SEI formation is derived from FSI−. Notably, increasing the DEE volume ratio promotes lithium fluoride (LiF) deposition and dissolution of fragmented FSI− into the electrolyte solution. FDMB inhibits such dissolution and enhances the formation of lithium nitride (Li3N) and lithium oxide (Li2O) in the SEI. Thus, the DEE/FDMB co-solvents complemented the weaknesses of the two solvents and offer the low SEI resistance. It explains optimal cycling performance for Li|Li and Li|LiFePO4 cells with 1:6 DEE/FDMB with 1 M LiFSI compared to that of the single DEE and FDMB.

Atomic Layer Deposition of Ultrathin Al2O3 Layer on Carbon Nanotube Anodes for Potassium Ion Batteries with High Initial Coulombic Efficiency and Electrochemical Performance

AbstractPotassium ion batteries (PIBs) have emerged as one of the most attractive alternatives to lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) to satisfy the burgeoning energy demand. The continuous growth of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and consumption of potassium resources cause poor initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE), unstable cycling performance, and even safety issues. Herein, the fabrication of an artificial SEI of an ultrathin Al2O3 layer by atomic layer deposition (ALD) on a multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) anode for high‐performance PIBs is reported. The SEI resistance and the charge transfer resistance in the MWCNTs electrode are significantly reduced according to electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and galvanostatic intermittent titration (GITT) measurements. The MWCNT electrode with a 2‐nm Al2O3 layer exhibits a much higher ICE of up to 85.9% than that of the uncoated one (20.8 %). It also maintains a remarkably high reversible capacity of 284 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1 after 100 cycles. In particular, the anode delivers superior rate capability of 558, 303, 251, 203, and 154 mAh g−1 at a current density of 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 mA g−1, respectively. This work offers an effective approach for fabricating PIBs with high ICE and electrochemical performance.

A benign strategy toward mesoporous carbon coated Sb nanoparticles: A high-performance Li-ion/Na-ion batteries anode

Antimony (Sb)-based anodes can offer excellent gravimetric capacity (∼660 mAhg−1) in lithium-ion/sodium-ion batteries (LIBs/SIBs) fabricated using carbonate-based electrolytes complexed with lithium/sodium salt. However, high first-cycle irreversible loss (35–40%) and gradual capacity fade (25–30%/cycle) originate from solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), and severe volumetric stress (∼300%) associated with alloyed phase(s) impede real-life applications. Herein, we devise a benign strategy to develop mesoporous carbon coating onto antimony nanoparticles (Sb@C) based core-shell architecture for LIBs/SIBs anode. In particular, ∼30–50 nm thick mesoporous carbon spheres (∼1 ± 0.5 μm) were obtained from resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF)-based polycondensation reaction by sol-gel chemistry engulfing Sb nanoparticles by suitably controlling Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-induced steric stabilization and pH modulation during synthesis. The core-shell Sb@C helps faster Li+/Na+-ion migration preventing the structural collapse of Sb during electrochemical cycling and thereby improving the capacity fade. Electrochemical results demonstrate Sb@C can deliver a specific capacity of ∼536 mAhg−1 and ∼ 291 mAhg−1 at 0.1C current rate in LIBs and SIBs, respectively, up to 200 cycles. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) indicates lower charge transfer (Rct) and SEI resistance (RSEI) of Sb@C cycled electrode than the bare Sb-NPs was the probable reason for improved Li/Na-ion storage in Sb@C anode. A detailed galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) and internal resistance measurements during 1st and 2nd cycles shed light on distinguishably different Li-ion/Na-ion storage behavior. The bulk Li+/Na+-ion diffusion coefficients found diminishes at reaction voltages (0.9 V/0.6 V for lithiation and 0.6 V/0.4 V for sodiation) corresponding with alloyed phase(s) concurrent with a drop in internal resistance at the quasi-open-circuit voltage (QOCV) during 1st and 2nd discharge cycle. On the contrary, de-alloying phenomena from the fully lithiated/sodiated phase(s) display an entirely opposite trend. The Li+ diffusion coefficient reaches minima at ∼1.1 V with a sudden jump in the internal resistance at QOCV during 1st and 2nd charge cycle. However, Na+ diffusion coefficient gradually drops along with a steep increase in the internal resistance, indicating partial Na-ion trapping and irreversible capacity loss.

Estimation of SoH and internal resistances of Lithium ion battery based on LSTM network

State of Health (SoH) and internal resistances, including the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) resistance and charge transfer resistance, are important parameters that change in the long-term representation of the aging state of Lithium-ion batteries. Using long short-term memory (LSTM) network, a neural network with the ability to remember long-term data features, this paper presents a method for estimating SoH and internal resistances of Lithium-ion batteries using LSTM network with deep learning mechanism. Based on experimental data including voltage, current, temperature with 03 charge/discharge scenarios and measuring impedance, input/output data structure is set up to reflect aging features used for estimating SoH and internal resistances by LSTM. The first LSTM network is designed to estimate SoH, then the data including current, voltage, temperature and estimated SoH will be used to estimate the SEI resistance and charge transfer resistance by the second LSTM network. With this structure, the estimation of internal resistances in practice will become simpler as it does not require measuring capacity and impedance spectroscopy. Comparing the estimation errors using LSTM and FNN with 03 performance metrics including mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), mean percentage error (MPE) and root mean square error (RMSE) shows that the estimation results of SoH and internal resistances of the cell by LSTM have higher accuracy than the estimation by Feedforward Neural Network (FNN).

Influence of Electrolytic Cell System on Graphite Electrode Interface Properties

Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests are used to investigate the performance of different cell systems. For two electrode button type cell, as the lack of reference electrode and its large contact resistance, it does not have the conditions on study the electrode/electrolyte interface performance effectively. Although the three-electrode button type cell shows some improvement on potential detection of the system which can partially eliminate the adverse effects caused by electrode polarization and reduce the contact resistance, there are some limitation on the investigation of the resistance of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) film and charge transfer process. However, it can show the variation of kinetic parameters well in the three-electrode glass type cell, which is the premise on studying the reaction mechanism, failure mechanism and electrode interface characteristics of electrode materials.

Understanding SEI evolution during the cycling test of anode-free lithium-metal batteries with LiDFOB salt.

Anode-free lithium-metal batteries (AFLMBs) have the potential to double the energy density of Li-ion batteries, but face the challenges of mossy dendritic lithium plating and an unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). Previous studies have shown that the AFLMBs with an electrolyte containing lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate (LiDFOB) salt outperform those with lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6), but the mechanism behind this improvement is not fully understood. In this study, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) depth profile analysis and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were conducted to investigate the SEI on plated Li from the two conducting salts and their evolution in Cu‖NMC full cells during cycling. XPS results revealed that an inorganic-rich SEI layer is formed in the cell with LiDFOB-based electrolyte, with a low carbon/oxygen ratio of 0.56 compared to 1.42 in the LiPF6-based cell. With the inorganic-rich SEI, a dense electroplated Li with a shining surface on the Cu substrate can be retained after ten cycles. The inorganic-rich SEI enhances the reversibility of Li plating and stripping, with a high average CE of ∼98% and a stable charge/discharge voltage profile. The changes in SEI resistance and cathode electrolyte interphase resistance are more prominent compared to the changes in solution and charge transfer resistances, which further validate the role of the passivation films on Li deposits and NMC cathode surfaces in stabilizing AFLMB cycling performance.

Effective Approach by Computational Chemical Prediction and Experimental Verification to Elucidate SEI Formation Mechanism in LiPF6-, LiFSI-, and LiBF4-Containing Electrolyte Solutions

Solvation structures of ethylene carbonate-based electrolyte solutions containing 1 mol/L LiPF6, LiN(SO2F)2 (LiFSI), or LiBF4 are experimentally determined, and their electron affinity and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) distribution are calculated by density functional theory (DFT). The stability of the electrolyte solutions against reduction can be evaluated using electron affinity of the solvates, and the formation mechanism of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) can be predicted by their LUMO distributions. The calculation results suggest that 1 mol/L LiPF6 and LiFSI electrolyte solutions should form SEI consisting of carbonate and carboxylate which derives from solvent decomposition and LiF originating from anion decomposition. These predictions are verified experimentally by scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. On the other hand, intriguingly, the reductive decomposition of 1 mol/L LiBF4 electrolyte solution does not simply proceed as theoretically predicted, and the subsequent reactions of SEI need to be considered: further decomposition of the organic SEI and formation of inorganic particles containing lithium, fluoride, oxygen, and boron. These results are consistent with an increase in the resistance of SEI and interfacial lithium ion transfer at the graphite negative electrode. Thus, a combination of DFT prediction and experimental analysis is an effective approach to reveal SEI formation mechanisms and can be utilized as a versatile approach to develop new solvents, electrolyte salts, and additives and to design electrolyte solutions with an appropriate concentration.