High performance of low-temperature electrolyte for lithium-ion batteries using mixed additives

In this work, the solvent and lithium salt are modified simultaneously to improve the low temperature performance of the electrolyte. The butyl acrylate (BA) with low melting point and high dielectric constant is combined with the ethylene carbonate (EC) with high dielectric constant and excellent film-forming property, which used as mixed additives. On the other hand, the LiBF4 with small ion size and large ion mobility is chose to mixed with LiPF6 with best comprehensive performance, which are used as mixed lithium salts. The BA + EC + LBF mixed additives improves the solubility, conductivity and melting point of the electrolyte, and effectively improves the composition, thickness and uniformity of the CEI film, which together increased the capacity and voltage platform of the batteries at low temperatures. The discharge capacities of BA16%+EC10%+0.3 M LBF battery at -10, -20, -30 and -40 degrees C are 173.1, 156.0, 147.0, and 119.3 mAh/g respectively, which are much higher than the batteries with the electrolyte without adding additives (122.0, 107.8, 95.7, and 74.3 mAh/g respectively). Furthermore, BA + EC + LBF can form a porous and thin LiF CEI film on the cathode surface, which is very favorable for transport of Li+, further improve the behaviors of the batteries at different low temperatures. Even in the case of charging and discharging at -40 degrees C, its discharge capacity can be stably maintained at 85 mAh/g. The BA + EC + LBF mixed additives used in this work as an effective strategy to improve the comprehensive behaviors of the battery at low temperatures, which would provide a new insight to design high performance of low temperature electrolyte.

Automated summary

In this study, both the solvent and lithium salt were modified to enhance the low temperature performance of the electrolyte. The mixed additives of BA + EC + LBF were found to improve the capacity and voltage platform of the batteries at low temperatures by forming a thin LiF film on the cathode surface.