Dependency of Aluminum Collector Corrosion in Lithium Ion Batteries on the Electrolyte Solvent

The corrosion behavior of aluminum current collectors at high potentials in the presence of the electrolyte salt LiN(SO2CF3)(2) and various electrolyte solvents is studied. The corrosion is investigated, by detection of the actual weight loss of the current collector. Collector corrosion depends on the chemistry of the electrolyte solvent, with strong corrosion in the presence of carbonates and lactones and minimal corrosion in the presence of nitriles. It is demonstrated that not only a charge consuming aluminum dissolution takes place and possible explanations are discussed. (C) 2012 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.