Water/Sulfolane Hybrid Electrolyte Achieves Ultralow-Temperature Operation for High-Voltage Aqueous Lithium-Ion Batteries

Aqueous batteries are promising candidates for large-scale energy storage due to their high safety and low cost. However, the narrow electrochemical stability window (ESW, 1.23 V) and high melting point (0 degrees C) of water limit the energy density and low-temperature operation of aqueous batteries. In this work, sulfolane is introduced as a co-solvent to obtain a water/sulfolane hybrid electrolyte, which participates in the solvated sheath of lithium ions, strengthens the O-H bond of water, and disrupts the large-scale hydrogen bond network. Such an elaborate strategy not only expands the ESW of the hybrid electrolyte to 3.8 V, but also lowers the glass-transition temperature to -110 degrees C. As proof of concept, the LiMn2O4/Li4Ti5O12 full batteries assembled by the hybrid electrolyte display high voltage (2.7 V) and excellent low-temperature performance of 98% capacity retention from 0 to -20 degrees C, which can even discharge normally and illume an LED light (rated power of 0.02 W, excitation voltage of 1.8 V) at -65 degrees C.

Automated summary

The addition of sulfolane as a co-solvent in aqueous batteries can improve their energy density and low-temperature operation, expanding the electrochemical stability window of the hybrid electrolyte and lowering the glass-transition temperature.