Stabilizing Nanosized Si Anodes with the Synergetic Usage of Atomic Layer Deposition and Electrolyte Additives for Li-Ion Batteries

A Review of Nonaqueous Electrolytes, Binders, and Separators for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are the most important electrochemical energy storage devices due to their high energy density, long cycle life, and low cost. During the past decades, many review papers outlining the advantages of state-of-the-art LIBs have been published, and extensive efforts have been devoted to improving their specific energy density and cycle life performance. These papers are primarily focused on the design and development of various advanced cathode and anode electrode materials, with less attention given to the other important components of the battery. The “nonelectroconductive” components are of equal importance to electrode active materials and can significantly affect the performance of LIBs. They could directly impact the capacity, safety, charging time, and cycle life of batteries and thus affect their commercial application. This review summarizes the recent progress in the development of nonaqueous electrolytes, binders, and separators for LIBs and discusses their impact on the battery performance. In addition, the challenges and perspectives for future development of LIBs are discussed, and new avenues for state-of-the-art LIBs to reach their full potential for a wide range of practical applications are outlined.

Graphic Abstract

Solid Electrolyte Interphase Layer Formation during Lithiation of Single-Crystal Silicon Electrodes with a Protective Aluminum Oxide Coating

The lithiation of crystalline silicon was studied over several cycles using operando neutron reflectometry over six cycles. A thin layer of aluminum oxide was employed as an artificial coating on the silicon to suppress the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer-related aging effects. Initially, the artificial SEI prevented side effects but led to increased lithium trapping. This layer degraded after two cycles, followed by side reactions, which decrease the coulombic efficiency. No hint for electrode fracturization was found even though the lithiation depth exceeded 1 μm. Two distinct zones with high and low lithium concentrations were found, initially separated by a sharp interface, which broadens with cycling. The correlation of the reflectometry results with the electrochemical current showed the lithium fraction that is lithiated in the silicon and the lithium consumed in side reactions. Also, neutron reflectometry was used to quantify the amount of lithium that remained inside of the silicon. Additional electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to gain insights into the electrical properties of the sample via fitting to an equivalent circuit.

Atomic/molecular layer deposition for energy storage and conversion

Energy storage and conversion systems, including batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, solar cells, and photoelectrochemical water splitting, have played vital roles in the reduction of fossil fuel usage, addressing environmental issues and the development of electric vehicles. The fabrication and surface/interface engineering of electrode materials with refined structures are indispensable for achieving optimal performances for the different energy-related devices. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) and molecular layer deposition (MLD) techniques, the gas-phase thin film deposition processes with self-limiting and saturated surface reactions, have emerged as powerful techniques for surface and interface engineering in energy-related devices due to their exceptional capability of precise thickness control, excellent uniformity and conformity, tunable composition and relatively low deposition temperature. In the past few decades, ALD and MLD have been intensively studied for energy storage and conversion applications with remarkable progress. In this review, we give a comprehensive summary of the development and achievements of ALD and MLD and their applications for energy storage and conversion, including batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, solar cells, and photoelectrochemical water splitting. Moreover, the fundamental understanding of the mechanisms involved in different devices will be deeply reviewed. Furthermore, the large-scale potential of ALD and MLD techniques is discussed and predicted. Finally, we will provide insightful perspectives on future directions for new material design by ALD and MLD and untapped opportunities in energy storage and conversion.

MXene Frameworks Promote the Growth and Stability of LiF-Rich Solid-Electrolyte Interphases on Silicon Nanoparticle Bundles

Silicon-based materials are the desirable anodes for next-generation lithium-ion batteries; however, the large volume change of Si during the charging/discharging process causes electrode fracture and an unstable solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer, which severely impair their stability and Coulombic efficiency. Herein, a bundle of silicon nanoparticles is encapsulated in robust micrometer-sized MXene frameworks, in which the MXene nanosheets are precrumpled by capillary compression force to effectively buffer the stress induced by the volume change, and the abundant covalent bonds (Ti-O-Ti) between adjacent nanosheets formed through a facile thermal self-cross-linking reaction further guarantee the robustness of the MXene architecture. Both factors stabilize the electrode structure. Moreover, the abundant fluorine terminations on MXene nanosheets contribute to an in situ formation of a highly compact, durable, and mechanically robust LiF-rich SEI layer outside the frameworks upon cycling, which not only shuts down the parasitic reaction between Si and an organic electrolyte but also enhances the structural stability of MXene frameworks. Benefiting from these merits, the as-prepared anodes deliver a high specific capacity of 1797 mA h g^-1 at 0.2 A g^-1 and a high capacity retention of 86.7% after 500 cycles at 2 A g^-1 with an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.6%. Significantly, this work paves the way for other high-capacity electrode materials with a strong volume effect.

Recent Progresses and Development of Advanced Atomic Layer Deposition towards High-Performance Li-Ion Batteries

Electrode materials and electrolytes play a vital role in device-level performance of rechargeable Li-ion batteries (LIBs). However, electrode structure/component degeneration and electrode-electrolyte sur-/interface evolution are identified as the most crucial obstacles in practical applications. Thanks to its congenital advantages, atomic layer deposition (ALD) methodology has attracted enormous attention in advanced LIBs. This review mainly focuses upon the up-to-date progress and development of the ALD in high-performance LIBs. The significant roles of the ALD in rational design and fabrication of multi-dimensional nanostructured electrode materials, and finely tailoring electrode-electrolyte sur-/interfaces are comprehensively highlighted. Furthermore, we clearly envision that this contribution will motivate more extensive and insightful studies in the ALD to considerably improve Li-storage behaviors. Future trends and prospects to further develop advanced ALD nanotechnology in next-generation LIBs were also presented.

Structural Exfoliation of Layered Cathode under High Voltage and Its Suppression by Interface Film Derived from Electrolyte Additive

Layered cathodes for lithium-ion battery, including LiCo_1-x-yNi_xMn_yO₂ and xLi₂MnO₃·(1-x)LiMO₂ (M = Mn, Ni, and Co), are attractive for large-scale applications such as electric vehicles, because they can deliver additional specific capacity when the end of charge voltage is improved to over 4.2 V. However, operation under a high voltage might cause capacity decaying of layered cathodes during cycling. The failure mechanisms that have been given, up to date, include the electrolyte oxidation decomposition, the Ni, Co, or Mn ion dissolution, and the phase transformation. In this work, we report a new mechanism involving the exfoliation of layered cathodes when the cathodes are performed with deep cycling under 4.5 V in the electrolyte consisting of carbonate solvents and LiPF₆ salt. Additionally, an electrolyte additive that can form a cathode interface film is applied to suppress this exfoliation. A representative layered cathode, LiCoO₂, and an interface film-forming additive, dimethyl phenylphosphonite (DMPP), are selected to demonstrate the exfoliation and the protection of layered structure. When evaluated in half-cells, LiCoO₂ exhibits a capacity retention of 24% after 500 cycles in base electrolyte, but this value is improved to 73% in the DMPP-containing electrolyte. LiCoO₂/graphite full cell using DMPP behaves better than the Li/LiCoO₂ half-cell, delivering an initial energy density of 700 Wh kg ^-1 with an energy density retention of 82% after 100 cycles at 0.2 C between 3 and 4.5 V, as compared to 45% for the cell without using DMPP.

Enhanced Lithiation Cycle Stability of ALD-Coated Confined a-Si Microstructures Determined Using In Situ AFM

Microfabricated amorphous silicon (a-Si) pits ∼4 μm in diameter and 100 nm thick were fabricated to be partially confined in a nickel (Ni) current collector. Corresponding unconfined pillars were also fabricated. The samples were coated with 1.5, 3, or 6 nm of Al2O3 ALD. These samples were tested in electrolytes of 3:7 by weight ethylene carbonate:ethyl methyl carbonate (EC:EMC) with 1.2 M LiPF6 salt with and without 2% fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) and in a pure FEC electrolyte with 10 wt % LiPF6. The samples were imaged with an atomic force microscope during electrochemical cycling to evaluate morphology evolution and solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation. The partially confined a-Si structures had superior cycle efficiency relative to the unconfined a-Si pillars. Additionally, samples with 3 nm of ALD achieved higher charge capacity and enhanced cycle life compared to samples without ALD, demonstrated thinner SEI formation, and after 10 cycles at a 1 C rate remained mostly intact and had actually decreased in diameter. Finally, the samples with 3 nm of ALD had better capacity retention in the baseline 3:7 EC:EMC than in either of the FEC containing electrolytes.