Compatibility Studies of New Hückel-Type-Based Electrolytes with Electrode Materials

Sodium has emerged as a major contender to lithium for rechargeable battery applications. Owing to its strengths are its high abundance, low production costs and suitable redox potential (Na/Na⁺, E^o = -2.71 V, not much less than Li/Li⁺, E˚=-3.05 V vs. standard hydrogen electrode). However, much like the lithium-ion battery industry, researchers are aware of how critical the electrolyte plays into cell performance. The novel imidazolate sodium salts: sodium 4,5-dicyano-2 (trifluoromethyl)imidazolate (NaTDI), sodium 4,5-dicyano-2-(pentafluoroethyl)imidazolate (NaPDI) and sodium pentacyanopropenide  (NaPCPI)  are presented [1]. Novel salts present interesting properties for electrolytes with applications in sodium and sodium-ion batteries.

These salts may be synthesized easily and have low cost of production on the industrial scale, but also possess very interesting ionic conductivity in solution containing EC/DMC (Graph 1.). Moreover, the salts studied exhibit electrochemical stability against anode (Graph 2.) and cathode. Electrode materials have been produced by two techniques: tape casting (cathode and anode) and Microwave Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition (anode) [2]. Presented anodes are based on germanium and antimony.

References:

[1] L. Niedzicki, E. Karpierz, A. Bitner, M. Kasprzyk, G.Z. Zukowska, M. Marcinek, W. Wieczorek, Optimization of the lithium-ion cell electrolyte composition through the use of the LiTDI saltElectrochim. Acta 117C (2014) 224-229

[2] M. Marcinek, L. Hardwick, G. Żukowska, R. Kostecki, Microwave Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition of Graphitic Carbon Thin Films, Carbon 48 (2010) 1552-1557