In recent years, the applications for Li-ion batteries have expanded dramatically. Having displaced NiMH in the consumer electronics market and beginning to displace NiCd in the power tool market, Li-ion batteries are being actively developed for HEVs and the military/aerospace applications, where the required operational temperature range is significantly broader.To date, the single technological bottleneck limiting the operation of the Li-ion battery over a wide temperature range is the electrolyte itself. In particular, Li-ion battery performance steeply declines as the operating temperature dips below -10°C. Additionally, battery characteristics rapidly deteriorate at temperatures above 60°C.We report on the development of a new family of Li-ion battery electrolytes designed to operate over a wide temperature range. These electrolytes possess excellent transport properties along with high thermal stability. Liion cells incorporating new electrolyte formulations may now be discharged at rates as high as C/4 at -50°C. Further, such cells demonstrate long cycle life both at room temperature and at temperatures as high as 80°C.In this paper we consider the operational temperature requirements for various applications and discuss the temperature limitations of state-of-the-art Li-ion battery electrolytes. We then present our results on the cycle life and charge/discharge characteristics of a new family of electrolytes over a wide temperature range. Finally, we consider potential compromises between Li-ion battery rate capability at low temperatures and high temperature cycle life.
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