Particulate Anion Sorbents as Electrolyte Additives for Lithium Batteries

The performance of lithium batteries is heavily governed by the transport of ions within the electrolytes. Commercial liquid electrolytes, however, generally exhibit a low lithium-ion transference number, causing concentration polarization, side reactions, and deteriorated battery performance. Herein, a novel class of electrolyte additives based on particles of metal-organic framework is proposed to immobilize the anions while allowing efficient transport of lithium ions in the electrolytes. The use of such additives effectively increases the lithium-ion transference number, enhances the rate capability, and prolongs the cycling life, which provides a facile yet effective strategy toward lithium batteries with dramatically improved performances.