Small-Sized Aggregate Electrolytes Enable Fast-Charging Lithium-Ion Batteries Over Wide Temperature Range

Abstract

The advancement of electric vehicles necessitates power lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with fast-charging capability across a broader temperature range. Traditional carbonate-based electrolytes struggle to meet these demands due to their high solvation energy, elevated melting points, and poor interphase stability. In this study, we present an innovative electrolyte featuring a small-sized aggregate solvation structure. This structure improves Li⁺ migration kinetics and promotes inorganic-rich interphase formation. Consequently, the graphite (Gr) anode demonstrates outstanding cycling stability, retaining 98.6% of its capacity after 1300 cycles and achieving a high-rate performance of 254.5 mAh g⁻¹ (over 70%) at 10 C. Moreover, this electrolyte delivers excellent rate performance for the LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂ (NCM811) cathode, achieving 118.9 mAh g⁻¹ (65%) at 10 C. In a commercial 1 Ah Gr||NCM811 pouch cell, the electrolyte sustains more than 80% capacity at 3 C and achieves 91.5% capacity retention after 1000 cycles. Notably, even at −20°C, the cell maintains a high capacity of 0.73 Ah at 0.5 C, and at an elevated temperature of 55°C, it delivers stable cycling for over 200 cycles. This small-sized aggregate electrolyte enables fast charging of LIBs across a wide temperature range and offers valuable insights into the design of electrolytes for other cation-based batteries.

Keywords

electrolyte / fast charging / lithium-ion batteries / solvation structure / wide temperature range

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