磷酸酯基阻燃电解液用于高安全锂硫电池

Nonflammable phosphate electrolytes for high-safety lithium–sulfur batteries

  • 摘要: Li–S电池被认为是最有希望的下一代高能量密度二次电池之一,开发高效阻燃电解液对于提升电池安全性极为重要. 本文对高浓度磷酸三乙酯(TEP)和磷酸三(2,2,2-三氟乙基)酯(TFP)电解液在锂–硫化聚丙烯腈(Li–PAN/S)电池中的应用展开了深入研究,以同样的锂盐摩尔比和氟代醚稀释梯度,研究了TEP和TFP基局部高浓度电解液对锂金属负极和硫正极稳定性的影响,详细解析了两种溶剂分子在电池循环过程中的界面反应. 研究表明,磷酸酯基高浓度电解液在Li–PAN/S电池中展示了较优异的循环稳定性,通过优化TTE的稀释比例,提升了电池的倍率特性. 对比基于TEP和TFP的电解液,发现TEP基电解液具有更好的锂沉积/剥离性能,而TFP基电解液在界面生成更多的有机组分,导致不稳定的界面膜. 以TEP212为电解液的锂硫电池能够在1C的倍率下稳定循环200圈以上,放电比容量保持在1080.8 mA·h·g−1.

     

    Abstract: Lithium–sulfur battery is cost-effective and has a theoretical specific energy density of up to 2600 W·h·kg−1; moreover, the earth is rich in sulfur resources; therefore, it is considered a promising candidate for next-generation high-energy-density batteries. However, a few obstacles still persist in the process of commercialization, including the insulation of charge and discharge products, huge volume changes, flammable electrolytes, polysulfide “Shuttle Effect”, and unstable lithium metal anode. Among these challenges, safety is a main concern in the process of commercialization. Batteries using sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (PAN/S) as positive electrode active material have substantial advantages in terms of lifespan and a wider selection of electrolytes. As lithium polysulfide dissolution has not been considered, phosphate-based electrolytes can be used in this system because they also have good nonflammable properties. Phosphate-based flame retardants or nonflammable solvents can capture combustion free radicals and have excellent flame retardant effects as main solvents and flame retardant additives. This study explores the application of high-concentration triethyl phosphate (TEP) and tri (2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) phosphate (TFP) electrolytes in Li-PAN/S batteries to improve battery safety for next-generation high-energy-density secondary batteries. We investigate the effect of TEP and TFP-based electrolytes on the stability of lithium metal negative and sulfur positive electrodes as well as interfacial reactions during battery cycling. Chargedischarge and Li deposition/stripping tests were conducted using a high-concentration electrolyte with a molar ratio of 1∶2 between LiFSI and TEP. The results reveal that the electrolyte can achieve a 99.6% S utilization at 0.1 Cand stable Li deposition/stripping performance. However, the high viscosity and limited ionic conductivity of electrolyte limit its battery performance under high-loading electrode and high-rate conditions. By conducting electrochemical tests on TEP and TFP-based electrolytes with different TTE dilution ratios, we found that the charge–discharge overpotential of TFP-based electrolytes was higher, making it difficult to stably cycle in Li/Cu half cells. Furthermore, TFP molecules formed an unstable interface layer on the Li metal surface, which deteriorates the cell performance. After diluting TEP-based electrolyte with TTE at a volume fraction of 1∶2, excellent rate performance was achieved, with stable cycling of over 200 cycles at a rate of 1C and ultimately maintaining a discharge specific capacity of 1038.1 mA·h·g−1. These results highlight the potential of high-concentration TEP as a promising candidate for safer and higher-performing Li–S batteries.

     

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