Lithium halide cathodes for Li metal batteries

Xu, Jijian; Pollard, Travis P.; Yang, Chongyin; Dandu, Naveen K.; Tan, Sha; Zhou, Jigang; Wang, Jian; He, Xinzi; Zhang, Xiyue; Li, Ai-Min; Hu, Enyuan; Yang, Xiao-Qing; Ngo, Anh; Borodin, Oleg; Wang, Chunsheng

doi:10.1016/j.joule.2022.11.002

DOE OSTI · 1903490

Lithium halide cathodes for Li metal batteries

Xu, Jijian·Pollard, Travis P.·Yang, Chongyin·Dandu, Naveen K.·Tan, Sha·Zhou, Jigang·Wang, Jian·He, Xinzi·Zhang, Xiyue·Li, Ai-Min·Hu, Enyuan·Yang, Xiao-Qing·Ngo, Anh·Borodin, Oleg·Wang, Chunsheng

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Abstract

Lithium halides cathodes potentially offer a high energy density at a low cost for rechargeable batteries. However, these cathodes suffer from quick capacity decay in organic electrolytes and the failiure mechanism remains elusive. Here, we report that liquefying the halogen or interhalogen compounds is a prerequisite for achieving high reversibility for the lithium halides cathodes. The gas or solid halogen can be liquefied by using interhalogen compounds with different electronegativity or changing the temperature. As a proof of concept, reversible LiCl conversion-intercalation chemistry in organic electrolyte is demonstrated by using either redox coupling with less electronegative I/Br to form liquid ICl/BrCl or reducing the temperature to -30oC. Further, the LiCl-LiBr-graphite cathodes in 1.6M lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate/1.6M lithium triflate in diglyme electrolytes achieve a high reversible specific capacity of 250 mAh/g at 3.7 V with an energy density being comparable to or higher than transition metal oxide cathodes at a much lower cost.

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25 ENERGY STORAGE cathode-electrolyte interphase cobalt-free cathode high concentration electrolyte high energy density lithium halides lithium metal battery low temperature quasi-ionic liquid electrolyte transition-metal-free cathode

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Xu, Jijian, Pollard, Travis P., Yang, Chongyin, Dandu, Naveen K., Tan, Sha, Zhou, Jigang, Wang, Jian, He, Xinzi, Zhang, Xiyue, Li, Ai-Min, Hu, Enyuan, Yang, Xiao-Qing, Ngo, Anh, Borodin, Oleg, Wang, Chunsheng. 2022-12-07. Lithium halide cathodes for Li metal batteries. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2022.11.002

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