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Complementary characterization results show that chemical dissolution of transition metal in LiMn₂O₄is caused by solvolysis-generated HF, which can be suppresed by rational design of a group of nonsolvolytic electrolytes. 

Solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) are challenged by complex interfacial chemistry and poor ion transport through the interfaces they form with battery electrodes. Here, we investigate a class of SSE composed of micrometer-sized lithium oxide (Li₂O) particles dispersed in a polymerizable 1,3-dioxolane (DOL) liquid. Ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of the DOL by Lewis acid salts inside a battery cell produces polymer-inorganic hybrid electrolytes with gradient properties on both the particle and battery cell length scales. These electrolytes sustain stable charge-discharge behavior in Li||NCM811 and anode-free Cu||NCM811 electrochemical cells. On the particle length scale, Li₂O retards ROP, facilitating efficient ion transport in a fluid-like region near the particle surface. On battery cell length scales, gravity-assisted settling creates physical and electrochemical gradients in the hybrid electrolytes. By means of electrochemical and spectroscopic analyses, we find that Li₂O particles participate in a reversible redox reaction that increases the effective CE in anode-free cells to values approaching 100%, enhancing battery cycle life. 

Rechargeable metal–air batteries operated in ambient air fail as a result of complex anode surface reactions. Interphases composed of metallic In protect Li anodes, enabling Li–air batteries to operate in ambient air.