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Metallic lithium is the most widespread reference electrode in lithium ion battery research, but its high reactivity limits the usage primarily to conventional carbonate based electrolytes. Novel high power concepts, like hybrid supercapacitors, require lithium containing electrolytes with high ionic conductivity (e.g., acetonitrile), which are not always stable versus lithium. In the current work we face this issue by refining activated carbon as a quasi-reference electrode originally employed for conventional supercapacitors. Different commercially available carbon powders were examined as reference electrode materials and calibrated in lithium-salt containing acetonitrile versus Li + intercalation/de-intercalation reaction of nanoparticulate Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 . The stability of the activated carbon reference electrode is highly affected by the salt employed and decreases in the following order: LiTFSI > LiClO 4 > LiPF 6 > LiBF 4 . Only a negligible impact of electrolyte solvent, pore size distribution and reference electrode binder was observed. Furthermore, activated carbon was functionalized (HNO 3 treated) and de-functionalized (thermal annealing in vacuum or hydrogen) to investigate the impact of carbon functionalization on the reference electrode stability. Nitrogen and oxygen containing surface groups have been found to drastically improve long-term stability of activated carbon quasi-reference electrodes. Even after 15 days exposed to the electrolyte, the potential of HNO 3 treated activated carbon is marginally altered by 10 mV.

Interface resistances between the different components of battery cells limit their fast charge and discharge capability which is required for different applications such as electromobility. To decrease interface resistances, it is necessary to understand which individual interface they arise at and how they can be controlled. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is a well-established technique for the distinction of different contributions to the internal cell resistance and allows the characterization of interface resistances. Especially the use of suitable cell setups allows one to attribute the measured resistances to specific interfaces. In this contribution, we investigate the impedance of dry polymer full cells containing a lithium iron phosphate/ poly(ethylene oxide)-lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide composite cathode, a solid polymer electrolyte separator and a lithium-metal anode. Based on the results on different cell setups, we are able to reliably determine the planar resistances between the components as well as the charge transfer resistance inside the composite cathode. For unoptimized systems, we find high planar resistances, which can be significantly reduced by coating and processing strategies. For the charge transfer resistance, we find a dependence on the SOC as well as on the charging direction. Possible mechanisms for the evolution of interface resistances are discussed also based on chemical analysis performed by photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

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