Optimizing Electrolyte Formulations for Better Lithium-Ion Batteries

In this presentation different electrolyte formulations that can improve the performance of current Li-ion batteries will be discussed. One is based on the idea of mixing ionic liquids with carbonate solvents in order to combine the advantages of the two and achieve thermally stable and nonflammable electrolyte mixtures with good cycling performance.

Another is based on aliphatic dinitriles solvents, NC-(CH₂)_n-CN, n = 3-8, that show good thermal and electrochemical stability (6-8 V). The variation in physical properties, crystallographic structure and battery performance of the different dinitrile-based electrolytes will be discussed.

Also, the use of these electrolyte formulations for high voltage batteries with the 4.7 V cathode material LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 will be discussed in details.

[1] Y. Abu-Lebdeh and I. Davidson, J. Electrochem. Soc. 2009, 156 A60; J. Power Sources 2009, 189  576

[2] H. Duncan, N. Salem, Y. Abu-Lebdeh, J. Electrochem. Soc. 2013, 160 A838