Low-concentration electrolyte with lithium nitrate as the sole salt for constructing a LiF/Li3N inorganic composite SEI and enabling stable lithium metal battery cycling
Wen X, Chen Q, Luo P, Wang M, Liao L, Shen Y, Luo X, Song J, Zaiser M, Li X (2025)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2025
Journal
Book Volume: 9
Pages Range: 6492-6505
Journal Issue: 23
DOI: 10.1039/d5se00849b
Abstract
Lithium nitrate (LiNO3) exhibits exceptional solid electrolyte interphase-forming capabilities, cost efficiency, high thermal stability, and low environmental impact. However, its limited solubility in ester-based electrolytes means that it is frequently used only as an electrolyte additive. This study presents a low-concentration electrolyte (LCE) formulation comprising 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME), fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), and ethoxylated pentafluorocyclotriphosphazene (PFPN), with 0.5 M lithium nitrate (LiNO3) serving as the sole lithium salt. In LiNO3, strong Li+–NO3− interactions arise from the high binding affinity between NO3− and Li+, driving preferential incorporation of NO3− into the Li+ solvation shell to form a solvation structure dominated by contact ion pairs (CIPs). Furthermore, FEC and PFPN pull out part of DME from the Li+ solvation shell via intermolecular interactions, thereby reducing the proportion of DME solvent participation in the Li+ solvation shell and promoting the formation of nitrate-rich aggregates (AGG/AGG+). This design confers high voltage tolerance (4.4 V) and non-flammability characteristics to a 0.5 M low-salt-concentration ether-based electrolyte. It tackles the challenge inherent in LCEs, where solvent-dominated solvation architectures give rise to the formation of an organic-rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), culminating in suboptimal cycling stability. The approach markedly improves the cycling performance of NMC811 (9.2 mg cm−2)‖Li (50 μm) full cells, achieving 80% capacity retention after 150 cycles, while promoting the formation of a LiF/Li3N inorganic composite solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). The key strategy of this work is to utilize LiNO3 as the sole lithium salt, which paves a novel pathway for the rational design of advanced low-concentration electrolytes.
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How to cite
APA:
Wen, X., Chen, Q., Luo, P., Wang, M., Liao, L., Shen, Y.,... Li, X. (2025). Low-concentration electrolyte with lithium nitrate as the sole salt for constructing a LiF/Li3N inorganic composite SEI and enabling stable lithium metal battery cycling. Sustainable Energy & Fuels, 9(23), 6492-6505. https://doi.org/10.1039/d5se00849b
MLA:
Wen, Xuanzhong, et al. "Low-concentration electrolyte with lithium nitrate as the sole salt for constructing a LiF/Li3N inorganic composite SEI and enabling stable lithium metal battery cycling." Sustainable Energy & Fuels 9.23 (2025): 6492-6505.
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China (CN)