Electrochemical Synthesis of Battery Electrode Materials from Ionic Liquids

Abstract

Electrode materials as well as the electrolytes play a decisive role in batteries determining their performance, safety, and lifetime. In the last two decades, different types of batteries have evolved. A lot of work has been done on lithium ion batteries due to their technical importance in consumer electronics, however, the development of post-lithium systems has become a focus in recent years. This chapter gives an overview of various battery materials, primarily focusing on development of electrode materials in ionic liquids via electrochemical route and using ionic liquids as battery electrolyte components.

Cyano(fluoro)borate and cyano(hydrido)borate ionic liquids: low-viscosity ionic media for electrochemical applications

“…33,53–55 Again, potential applications have been investigated, for example Li[BF(CN) 3 ] was tested as component of non-aqueous electrolytes for lithium batteries. 28,56–59 Furthermore, the follow-up chemistry of cyano(fluoro)borate anions allows the synthesis of unprecedented and often otherwise inaccessible boron species, which include the homoleptic cyanoborate anions [B 2 (CN) 6 ] 2–60,61 and B(CN) 3 2− , 62–64 the weakly coordinating borate anion [B(CF 3 ) 4 ] − 65,66 and the [B(CO 2 H) 4 ] − ion. 67…”

Tuning the Reactivity of TEMPO during Electrocatalytic Alcohol Oxidations in Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids

“…Room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) are salts that are liquid below 100 °C, inherently conductive, nonvolatile, and generally more electrochemically stable than conventional solvents such as acetonitrile. The unique properties of RTILs offer clear advantages during the development of electrosynthetic processes, due to their stability and the fact that they can be used as both the solvent and electrolyte. , RTILs can also be used as dissolved electrolytes, which in some cases has improved the efficiency of electrochemical reactions. For example, addition of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate to alkaline water improved water electrolysis significantly .…”

Ionic Liquids and their Polymers in Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries

“…They typically have negligible volatility, good thermal/electrochemical stability, high ionic conductivity, and wide electrochemical window. For these reasons, they have been examined as electrolyte components for commercial cells . Moreover, ILs can be used as starting materials to produce poly(ionic liquids) (PILs), combining the beneficial properties of “normal” ILs with properties of polymers, such as mechanical stability and processability.…”

“…For these reasons, they have been examined as electrolyte components for commercial cells. [24] Moreover, ILs can be used as starting materials to produce poly(ionic liquids) (PILs), [25,26] combining the beneficial properties of "normal" ILs with properties of polymers, such as mechanical stability and processability. This marriage of properties has initiated new research frontiers with broad applicability, for example the use of PILs as particles, membranes, and coatings.…”

“…This marriage of properties has initiated new research frontiers with broad applicability, for example the use of PILs as particles, membranes, and coatings . ILs and IL‐derived materials have been investigated for a variety of functions in batteries, including fabrication of electrode materials, as electrolytes, as binders, as artificial solid electrolyte interphase (a‐SEI) layer to protect the Li‐metal anode, as coating to enhance the interfacial wettability and stability in solid electrolyte cells, and as medium or solvent in the preparation of battery components . In each of these cases, ILs were found to either modify or improve the working operation of the battery.…”