Lithium Batteries and the Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI)—Progress and Outlook

Abstract

those being implemented in solving global challenges remain accompanied by an energy reliance on non-renewable fossil fuels. The accelerated depletion of stocks of these energy sources, together with their associated pollution drives the need to expedite establishment of robust renewable alternatives. Often termed "renewables" or "clean energy," these power sources have a perennial temporalavailability and thus have greater need for energy repositories than non-renewables. Hence, prompt optimization of energy storage-delivery devices is crucial to the sustainable development, scaling, commercial delivery, and global establishment of reliable clean energy. [1,2] Batteries and electrochemical devices have most often filled the majority of power-storage and are ubiquitous as energy mediation devices, capable of harnessing large amount of energy for various applications including the aerospace, travel and transport, and electronics industries, among others. [3][4][5][6] The future of batteries lies with devices produced from ever-more sustainable components that can offer improved safety, transportability, extended battery life, have short recharge times as well as low production costs and Interfacial dynamics within chemical systems such as electron and ion transport processes have relevance in the rational optimization of electrochemical energy storage materials and devices. Evolving the understanding of fundamental electrochemistry at interfaces would also help in the understanding of relevant phenomena in biological, microbial, pharmaceutical, electronic, and photonic systems. In lithium-ion batteries, the electrochemical instability of the electrolyte and its ensuing reactive decomposition proceeds at the anode surface within the Helmholtz double layer resulting in a buildup of the reductive products, forming the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). This review summarizes relevant aspects of the SEI including formation, composition, dynamic structure, and reaction mechanisms, focusing primarily on the graphite anode with insights into the lithium metal anode. Furthermore, the influence of the electrolyte and electrode materials on SEI structure and properties is discussed. An update is also presented on state-of-theart approaches to quantitatively characterize the structure and changing properties of the SEI. Lastly, a framework evaluating the standing problems and future research directions including feasible computational, machine learning, and experimental approaches are outlined.

Synergistic Strategy Using Doping and Polymeric Coating Enables High-Performance High-Nickel Layered Cathodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

“…Human energy consumption is rising annually as industrialization picks up speed, and the energy crisis has increasingly become the major obstacle restricting countries worldwide from achieving technological breakthroughs. − Due to the sustainability of energy transmission and distribution, electrical energy storage (EES) has gained recognition as a technology that can successfully address these challenges. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are being developed increasingly in the direction of high-performance battery systems with high specific energy, high power density, high safety, and long cycle life as an emerging high-efficiency and clean energy storage device. − The cathode material, which is a crucial component of LIBs, is what primarily determines the electrochemical performance of LIBs, including energy density, cycling stability, and preparation cost. One of the keys to promote the practical application of high-specific energy LIBs is the development of high-performance cathode materials. , …”

Recognition and Application of Catalysis in Secondary Rechargeable Batteries

“…During the operation of the batteries, a stable electrode–electrolyte interface (EEI) layer is of vital importance to obtain a long cycle life and a high voltage output. Even so, it is difficult to develop an ideal EEI layer to keep the batteries operating for a long time . For example, due to the high reactivity of the Li anode (or other alkali metals), it would react with electrolyte to form an ionically conductive but electronically insulating SEI layer.…”

“…Even so, it is difficult to develop an ideal EEI layer to keep the batteries operating for a long time. 45 For example, due to the high reactivity of the Li anode (or other alkali metals), it would react with electrolyte to form an ionically conductive but electronically insulating SEI layer. Nonetheless, the developed SEI layer is commonly nonuniform and fragile, which would lead to dendrite growth and even catastrophic short circuit.…”

Quasi-solid-state electrolytes - strategy towards stabilising Li|inorganic solid electrolyte interfaces in solid-state Li metal batteries

“…To achieve higher energy density, lithium metal is considered the most promising anode material due to its high theoretical capacity (3,860 mAh g -1 ) and low electrode potential (-3.04 V vs. standard hydrogen electrode) [6,7] . However, its use in combination with conventional LE is prevented by the thermodynamic instability of the carbonate-based organic solvent and the inability of lithium salt anion which cannot form a stable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on the Li surface [8] .…”