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Identifying the components of the solid–electrolyte interphase in Li-ion batteries
Abstract
The importance of the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) for reversible operation of Li-ion batteries has been well established, but the understanding of its chemistry remains incomplete. The current consensus on the identity of the major organic SEI component is that it consists of lithium ethylene di-carbonate (LEDC), which is thought to have high Li-ion conductivity, but low electronic conductivity (to protect the Li/C electrode). Here, we report on the synthesis and structural and spectroscopic characterizations of authentic LEDC and lithium ethylene mono-carbonate (LEMC). Direct comparisons of the SEI grown on graphite anodes suggest that LEMC, instead of LEDC, is likely to be the major SEI component. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies on LEMC and lithium methyl carbonate (LMC) reveal unusual layered structures and Li+ coordination environments. LEMC has Li+ conductivities of >1 × 10-6 S cm-1, while LEDC is almost an ionic insulator. The complex interconversions and equilibria of LMC, LEMC and LEDC in dimethyl sulfoxide solutions are also investigated.
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“Their results show that lithium ethylene mono-carbonate (LEMC), instead of lithium ethylene di-carbonate (LEDC), becomes the major organic components in the SEI on graphite anodes in LiPF 6 -EC/DMC electrolytes, after prolonged cycling.”
From Review on Low-Temperature Electrolytes for Lithium-Ion and Lithium Metal Batteries (2023) · cites this paper as [30]
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“However, it could not be used in graphite anode contained battery systems as the major/single solvent due to the solvent co-intercalation and exfoliation of the graphite anodes [30,31].”
From Review on Low-Temperature Electrolytes for Lithium-Ion and Lithium Metal Batteries (2023) · cites this paper as [30]
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Electrolytes and Interphases in Li-Ion Batteries and Beyond
Xu, K. (2014) · Chemical Reviews · doi:10.1021/cr500003w · Cited by 5,566
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Metadata
- Authors
- Wang, L., Menakath, A., Han, F., Wang, Y., Zavalij, P. Y., Gaskell, K. J., Borodin, O., Iuga, D., Brown, S. P., Wang, C., Xu, K., & Eichhorn, B. W.
- Affiliations
- University of Maryland, College Park (US)
- University of Warwick (GB)
- DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory (US)
- Corresponding author
- Wang, Chunsheng
- Xu, Kang
- Eichhorn, Bryan W.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Nature Chemistry
- Published
- 2019-08-19
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 789-796
- ISSN
- 1755-4330 (ISSN-L)
- 1755-4349
- OpenAlex
- W2967719016
- Cited by
- 514
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 41 · 2025: 73 · 2024: 78 · 2023: 100 · 2022: 74 · 2021: 76 · 2020: 64 · 2019: 8
- FWCI
- 19.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Nature Chemistry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Warwick Research Archive Portal (University of Warwick) (acceptedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Advancements in Battery Materials
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Automotive Engineering › Battery Modeling and Management
- Keywords
- solid electrolyte interphase, lithium-ion batteries, graphite anode, lithium ion conductivity, ionic insulators, layered structure, lithium coordination, SEI composition, electrolyte decomposition
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