A symmetrical ionic liquid/Li salt system for rapid ion transport and stable lithium electrochemistry

Designer liquids boost battery performance

28 February 2019

A novel, salt-based electrolyte developed by Deakin University researchers could help realize next-generation batteries that are safer and store more energy than today’s lithium-ion cells.

Lithium metal batteries could replace lithium-ion ones in many applications if scientists can improve the batteries’ liquid electrolyte. To maximize battery lifetime and performance, researchers are aiming to develop electrolytes with very high lithium salt contents. They are also seeking safer alternatives to conventional volatile organic liquid electrolytes, which can cause overheated batteries to explode.

Ionic liquids are non-volatile, non-flammable, alternative electrolytes for lithium metal batteries. But they typically become viscous at high lithium salt concentrations, which lowers their conductivity.

Deakin University researchers have discovered an ionic liquid electrolyte that overcomes the viscosity problem, so that it retains an excellent conductivity even at super-concentrated lithium salt conditions. The result could inspire a new class of electrolyte for lithium batteries.

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References

1. Chemical Communications 54, 3660–3663 (2018). doi: 10.1039/c8cc00531a