Solid electrolyte interphases (SEI) enable the battery chemistries to maximize energy density by operating beyond the thermodynamic stability limits of non-aqueous electrolytes ^1,2. The chemical building blocks of SEI come from the decomposition of either solvents or salt anion, depending on a host of interwoven parameters such as the HOMO/LUMO energy levels of these components (reduction/oxidation stability) as well as their interactions (solvation sheath structures). Designing electrolytes for new battery chemistries requires understanding of interphasial chemistries and the ability to manipulate them. This talk summarizes our efforts in interfacing various electrode chemistries to electrolytes of non-aqueous, aqueous and hybrid natures.

References:

[1] K. Xu, Chem. Rev., 2004, 104, 4303

[2] K. Xu, Chem. Rev., 2014, 114, 11503