Solid Electrolyte Interphase Stabilization Path to Lithium Metal Plating-Free High-Energy Lithium-Ion Battery Under Subzero-Temperature

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are ubiquitous power sources and demand for higher energy and higher performance LIBs than state-of-the-art ones continues to increase for longer range use of electric mobility and energy-storage systems. Performance of conventional LIBs is often limited or failed in tough working environments, particularly, subzero-temperatures because of reduced ionic conductivity of electrolyte and diffusion kinetics of both anode and cathode, causing lithium metal plating and dendrite growth and finally safety issue and death of LIBs. Herein, for the first time we report a lithium metal plating-free and unprecedented high-performance graphite parallel to LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) full-cell under subzero-temperature of -10 degrees C and high-voltage of 4.45 V through the construction of robust solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layers at both anode and cathode and their structural stabilization in 1 M LiPF6 and nonflammable electrolyte. Subzero-temperature operation of commercial electrolyte-based full-cell however results in a drastic performance failure in early cycles and shows distinguishing marks such as lithium metal plating at graphite anode and irreversible phase transformation of NCM811 to disordered H3 phase with a large volume contraction. The strong correlation between anode-electrolyte and cathode-electrolyte interfacial stabilization, bulk structural stabilization of both anode and cathode, and highly reversible cycling performance under subzero-temperature is clearly demonstrated.

Automated summary

For the first time, a lithium metal plating-free and unprecedented high-performance graphite parallel to LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) full-cell under subzero-temperature of -10 degrees C and high-voltage of 4.45 V has been reported through the construction of robust solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layers at both anode and cathode. The performance failure of commercial electrolyte-based full-cell under subzero-temperature operation is attributed to lithium metal plating at graphite anode and irreversible phase transformation of NCM811 to disordered H3 phase with a large volume contraction. The study clearly demonstrates the importance of anode-electrolyte and cathode-electrolyte interfacial stabilization, bulk structural stabilization of both anode and cathode, and highly reversible cycling performance under subzero-temperature.