Stabilizing the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) remains a key challenge for silicon-based lithium-ion battery anodes. Alloying silicon with secondary elements like boron has emerged as a promising strategy to improve the cycle life of silicon anodes, yet the underlying mechanism remains unclear. To address this knowledge gap, how boron concentration influences battery performance is systematically investigated. These results show a near-monotonic increase in cycle lifetime with higher boron content, with boron-rich electrodes significantly outperforming pure silicon. Additionally, silicon-boron alloy anodes exhibit nearly three times longer calendar life than pure silicon. Through detailed mechanistic analysis, alternative contributing factors are systematically ruled out, and it is proposed that improved passivation arises from a strong permanent dipole at the nanoparticle surface. This dipole, formed by undercoordinated and highly Lewis acidic boron, creates a static, ion-dense layer that stabilizes the electrochemical interface, reducing parasitic electrolyte decomposition and enhancing long-term stability. These findings suggest that, within the SEI framework, the electric double layer is an important consideration in surface passivation. This insight provides an underexplored parameter space for optimizing silicon anodes in next-generation lithium-ion batteries.
Editor's note: Sodium-metal batteries are important for large-scale energy storage and mobile electronic devices as an energy storage device with high energy density and low cost. However, the performance of electrolyte and SEI limits the cycle life and charge/discharge rate of sodium-metal batteries. How does LiTFSI make a difference in sodium-metal batteries? Here is an example. Thanks to a special research from Shuang Wan team.
Abstract
Constructing an inorganic-rich and robust solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is one of the crucial approaches to improving the electrochemical performance of sodium metal batteries (SMBs). However, the low conductivity and distribution of common inorganics in SEI disturb Na+ diffusion and induce nonuniform sodium deposition. Here, we construct a unique SEI with evenly scattered high-conductivity inorganics by introducing a self-sacrifice LiTFSI into the sodium salt-base carbonate electrolyte. The reductive competition effect between LiTFSI and FEC facilitates the formation of the SEI with evenly scattered inorganics. In which the high-conductive Li3N and inorganics provide fast ions transport domains and high-flux nucleation sites for Na+, thus conducive to rapid sodium deposition at a high rate. Therefore, the SEI derived from LiTFSI and FEC enables the Na∥Na3V2(PO4)3 cell to show 89.15% capacity retention (87.62 mA h g–1) at an ultrahigh rate of 60 C after 10,000 cycles, while the cell without LiTFSI delivers only 48.44% capacity retention even after 8000 cycles. Moreover, the Na∥Na3V2(PO4)3 pouch cell with the special SEI presents a stable capacity retention of 92.05% at 10 C after 2000 cycles. This unique SEI design elucidates a new strategy to propel SMBs to operate under extreme high-rate conditions.
Editor's note: How does LiTFSI, CAS: 90076-65-6, help in development of sulfide-based all-solid-sate lithium battery? Here is an example. Thanks to the extraordinary research from Fangyang Liu team.
Abstract
The narrow electrochemical window of sulfide electrolytes can lead to different failure mechanisms at the interfaces of the cathode and anode sides. The introduction of distinct modification strategies for the cathode and anode sides increases the complexity of the fabrication process for sulfide-based all-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs). In this work, an integrated modification strategy was employed by introducing lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) shells during the wet refinement process of Li6PS5Cl (LPSC), which successfully in situ constructed robust fluorinated interfaces on both the cathode and anode sides simultaneously. On the lithium anode side, the decreased electronic conductivity of LiTFSI@LPSC and the generation of fluorinated interface effectively suppressed lithium dendrite growth, which was further confirmed by the Density-Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. As a result, the Li|LiTFSI@LPSC|Li cell realized the critical current density up to 1.6 mA cm−2 and stable cycling performance over 1500 h at 0.2 mA cm−2. On the cathode side, the LiTFSI@LPSC not only enhanced Li+ transport within the composite cathode, but also the LiTFSI shell in situ decomposed into LiF based cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI). The capacity retention achieved 98.6 % after 500 cycles at 2C with LiNi0.83Co0.11Mn0.06O2 (NCM83) at high cut-off voltage of 4.6 V. The functionalized LiTFSI@LPSC facilitates comprehensive, all-in-one interfacial modification for both the anode and cathode sides, significantly simplifying the interface engineering in sulfide-based ASSLBs while delivering exceptional electrochemical performance.
Lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), with the chemical molecular formula of C2F6LiNO4S2, is a white crystalline or powdery organic substance with high electrochemical and thermal stability. As an electrolyte additive, LiTFSI can be applied to various battery systems such as primary lithium batteries, secondary lithium batteries and solid state lithium batteries.
Lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), a key component in the electrolyte of lithium-ion batteries, is known for its excellent thermal and electrochemical stability. Through its unique molecular configuration, this lithium salt builds a solid anion network within the electrolyte, which not only significantly reduces the viscosity of the solution, but also dramatically increases the lithium ion shuttle rate. This property directly translates into high efficiency in the battery charging and discharging process, making LiTFSI ideal for enhancing the overall performance of lithium-ion batteries. Especially in the research and development of solid-state lithium batteries, LiTFSI shows great potential. In addition, it shows highly positive performance in Sodium Metal Batteries (SMBs) research and is expected to drive further innovation in battery technology. However, the performance stability of LiTFSI in complex & systematic environments are the urgent issues to be solved in the current research.
Lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) has begun applications in bulk in new types of batteries such as solid-state lithium-ion batteries, including polymer solid-state batteries, sulfide solid-state batteries and oxide solid-state batteries. LiTFSI has been shown to be useful for improving battery performance, including its role in anode protection, facilitating the ability of fast charging, and promoting high advantage in a wide temperature range. Lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide is one of the important electrolyte additives for lithium batteries, which can improve the electrochemical stability, cycling performance and conductivity of the electrolyte, and has less corrosive effect on aluminum foil at higher voltages, which can be adapted to increase the energy density of batteries in EV industry.
On 15 July 2024, China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration (NEA) issued the “Program on Low-Carbon Transformation and Construction of Coal Power Plants(2024-2027)”, which mentions that: By 2025, the low-carbon transformation projects of the first coal power plants will all be started, and a bunch of low-carbon power technologies will be put into application; the carbon emissions of the relevant projects will be reduced by about 20% per kilowatt-hour as compared to that of in 2023, even obviously lower than the carbon emission of those existing advanced coal power plants, thus exploring valuable experience for the clean and low-carbon transformation of coal power plants. By Adapting the low-carbon transformation of the existing coal power units and construction of new low-carbon coal power units in a coordinated manner, we aim to accelerate the construction of a new energy system that is clean, low-carbon, safe and highly efficient.
According to relevant forecasts, by 2030, CO2 emissions from coal power plants will be about 4 billion tons. Therefore, the low-carbon technologies of coal power industry are the key support to achieve China's ‘2030 - 2060 Carbon Peak & Carbon Neutral’ goal. So, how could the coal power industry achieve decarbonization?
01 Coal power decarbonization transformation and construction methods
According to the Program on Low Carbon Transformation and Construction of Coal Power Plants(2024-2027), there are three specific ways to transform coal power into low carbonization:
1, Biomass blending. By utilizing biomass resources such as agricultural and forestry waste, waste plants and renewable energy crops, and taking into consideration of sustainable supply of biomass resources, safety, flexibility, operational efficiency and economic feasibility, coal-fired power generating units should be coupled with biomass power generation. After the transformation and construction, the coal power plants should have the ability to mix more than 10% of biomass fuels, thus reducing coal consumption and carbon emission significantly.
2, Green ammonia blending. By using green ammonia blending with coal power units to generate electricity and replace part of the coal. Coal power units should have the ability to burn more than 10% green ammonia after transformation and construction, with a goal that coal consumption and carbon emission levels can be obviously reduced.
3, Carbon capture, utilization and storage. Adopt chemical methods, adsorption, membrane and other technologies to separate and capture carbon dioxide in the flue gas of coal-fired boilers. Capture, purify and compress carbon dioxide through pressure and temperature adjustment. Promote the application of geological technologies such as efficient oil driving by carbon dioxide. Use chemical technologies such as carbon dioxide plus hydrogen to obtain methanol. Implement geological storage of carbon dioxide according to local conditions.
02 Transition pathways for low-carbon coal power
Clean energy expansion, including hydroelectric power, wind power and solar power, is the key to realizing the low-carbon power supply blueprints. After meeting the incremental power demand, further replacement of the existing coal power is needed for the low-carbon power transition. After 2030, non-fossil energy power will replace the existing coal power and become the major part of power supply; and after 2050, the share of coal-fired power generation will be less than 5% among China’s total power supply.
According to a study from Renmin University of China on the development outlook of China's low-carbon transition of coal power, it can be divided into the following three steps:
1, From now on to 2030 as the preparation period for low carbon transition, coal power capacity will still grow moderately before 2030, at the same time, the new energy becomes the majority of power supply increase, and the share of wind & solar power installed capacity will be more than 40% by 2030.
2, Year 2030-2045 as the rapid transition period, after 2030, share of wind & solar power will rapidly exceed that of the coal power, becoming the main power source of the power system. Coal power plants need to be coupled with biomass technology, CCUS and other clean low-carbon technologies, thus reducing carbon emissions.
3, Year 2045 -2060 as power supply strengthening and improvement period, by 2050 the demand for electricity will be saturated, coal power will be completely transformed into an adjustment power supply, serving the digestion and absorption of the major power of wind-solar energy, and providing emergency and spare power.
Here is an example of a power base in Kubuqi Desert. The total planned capacity of Kubuqi power base is 16 million kilowatts, including photovoltaic power of 8 million kilowatts, wind power of 4 million kilowatts, and advanced high-efficiency coal power capacity of 4 million kilowatts. The solar power projects that have been built are spectacular, with 2M kW of installed photovoltaic capacity already in operation. If all projects are fully completed, it is estimated that about 40 billion kWh of electricity can be delivered to millions of families per year, with clean energy accounting for more than 50% of the total, which is equivalent of saving about 6 million tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 16 million tons annually. It is planned that more clean energy bases will be on the way. Solar panels first built Solar panels one year later Solar power base five years later
As for EV and its charging infrastructure, according to statistics, by the end of May 2024, the total number of EV charging infrastructures had accumulated to 9.92 million units across China, an increase of 56% YOY. Among them, public charging facilities and private sector had increased to 3.05 million units and 6.87 million respectively, with growth rates of 46% and 61% YOY respectively. This signifies that China has built the largest charging infrastructure network in the world, covering the widest service area and range of charging types.
Editor's note: Lithium-ion batteries are now widely used in a variety of electronic devices, EV and grid-scale energy storage. Global demand for lithium-ion batteries continues to grow significantly. It is estimated that by 2030, the global volume of spent lithium-ion batteries will exceed 11 million tons, which will become a huge source of pollution that could seriously threaten the environment and public health. At the same time, the growing demand for lithium-ion batteries translates into a growing demand for lithium and cobalt. On the other hand, the content of lithium and cobalt in LIB cathodes is as high as 15% and 7% wt, respectively, which is much higher than that in ores and brines. Therefore, the recovery of metal elements in spent LIB cathodes is of great environmental, social and economic significance. Currently, the recovery of lithium-ion batteries is mainly divided into three steps: pretreatment, metal extraction and metal separation. In the research and development of the metal extraction step of the recycling process, the hydrometallurgical process is one of the most viable options because of its high metal leaching rate and satisfactory purity of the recovered products. However, the process is not so environment friendly, nor highly economical, because the use of inorganic acids brings hazardous by-products; while organic acids require additional reducing agents or longer reaction times and higher temperatures for metal recovery.
Researchers from Zhong Lin Wang team bring us a possible method that is green, highly efficient and economical for recycling LIBs, including lithium cobalt oxide batteries (LCO) and ternary lithium batteries.
Abstract
With the global trend towards carbon neutrality, the demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is continuously increasing. However, current recycling methods for spent LIBs need urgent improvement in terms of eco-friendliness, cost and efficiency. Here we propose a mechano-catalytic method, dubbed contact-electro-catalysis, utilizing radicals generated by contact electrification to promote the metal leaching under the ultrasonic wave. We also use SiO2 as a recyclable catalyst in the process. For lithium cobalt (III) oxide batteries, the leaching efficiency reached 100% for lithium and 92.19% for cobalt at 90 °C within 6 hours. For ternary lithium batteries, the leaching efficiencies of lithium, nickel, manganese and cobalt reached 94.56%, 96.62%, 96.54% and 98.39% at 70 °C, respectively, within 6 hours. We anticipate that this method can provide a green, high efficiency and economic approach for LIB recycling, meeting the exponentially growing demand for LIB productions.
Editor's note: Lithium-ion batteries are now widely used in a variety of electronic devices, EV and grid-scale energy storage. Global demand for lithium-ion batteries continues to grow significantly. It is estimated that by 2030, the global volume of spent lithium-ion batteries will exceed 11 million tons, which will become a huge source of pollution that could seriously threaten the environment and public health. At the same time, the growing demand for lithium-ion batteries translates into a growing demand for lithium and cobalt. On the other hand, the content of lithium and cobalt in LIB cathodes is as high as 15% and 7% wt, respectively, which is much higher than that in ores and brines. Therefore, the recovery of metal elements in spent LIB cathodes is of great environmental, social and economic significance. Currently, the recovery of lithium-ion batteries is mainly divided into three steps: pretreatment, metal extraction and metal separation. In the research and development of the metal extraction step of the recycling process, the hydrometallurgical process is one of the most viable options because of its high metal leaching rate and satisfactory purity of the recovered products. However, the process is not so environment friendly, nor highly economical, because the use of inorganic acids brings hazardous by-products; while organic acids require additional reducing agents or longer reaction times and higher temperatures for metal recovery.
Researchers from Zhong Lin Wang team bring us a possible method that is green, highly efficient and economical for recycling LIBs, especially LFP batteries.
Abstract
The recycling of lithium iron phosphate batteries (LFPs), which represent more than 32% of the worldwide lithium-ion battery (LIB) market share, has raised attention owing to the valuable element resources and environmental concerns. However, state-of-the-art recycling technologies, which are typically based on electrochemical or chemical leaching methods, have critical issues such as tedious procedures, enormous chemical/electricity consumption and secondary pollution. Here, we report an innovative self-powered system composed of an electrochemical LIB recycling reactor and a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) for recycling spent LFP. In the electrochemical LIB recycling reactor, the Cl−/ClO− pair generated electrochemically in NaCl solution is adopted as the redox mediator to break down LFP into FePO4 and Li+via the redox targeting reaction without extra chemicals. Additionally, a TENG that utilizes discarded components from LIBs including casings, aluminum-plastic films and current collectors is designed to drastically minimize secondary pollutants. Furthermore, the TENG harvests wind energy, delivering an output of 0.21 W for powering the electrochemical recycling system and charging batteries. Therefore, the proposed system for recycling spent LFP exhibits high purity (Li2CO3, 99.70% and FePO4, 99.75%), self-powered features, simplified treatment procedure and a high profit, which can promote the sustainability of LIB technologies.
Li-ion batteries have made inroads into the electric vehicle market with high energy densities, yet they still suffer from slow kinetics limited by the graphite anode. Here, electrolytes enabling extreme fast charging (XFC) of a microsized graphite anode without Li plating are designed. Comprehensive characterization and simulations on the diffusion of Li+ in the bulk electrolyte, charge-transfer process, and the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) demonstrate that high ionic conductivity, low desolvation energy of Li+, and protective SEI are essential for XFC. Based on the criterion, two fast-charging electrolytes are designed: low-voltage 1.8 m LiFSI in 1,3-dioxolane (for LiFePO4||graphite cells) and high-voltage 1.0 m LiPF6 in a mixture of 4-fluoroethylene carbonate and acetonitrile (7:3 by vol) (for LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2||graphite cells). The former electrolyte enables the graphite electrode to achieve 180 mAh g−1 at 50C (1C = 370 mAh g−1), which is 10 times higher than that of a conventional electrolyte. The latter electrolyte enables LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2||graphite cells (2 mAh cm−2, N/P ratio = 1) to provide a record-breaking reversible capacity of 170 mAh g−1 at 4C charge and 0.3C discharge. This work unveils the key mechanisms for XFC and provides instructive electrolyte design principles for practical fast-charging LIBs with graphite anodes.
Editor’s note: Researchers report a breakthrough high-voltage high-energy-density electrochemistry of Lithium-ion Battery that is economical and metal-free (environment-friendly). This 4 V-class organic lithium-ion battery features high theoretical capacity and high voltage, while their practical cathode materials and electrolytes remain unexplored.
Are Redox-Active Organic Small Molecules Applicable for High-Voltage (>4 V) Lithium-Ion Battery Cathodes?
By: Yuto Katsuyama, Hiroaki Kobayashi, Kazuyuki Iwase, Yoshiyuki Gambe, Itaru Honma | First published: 10 March 2022 on Advanced Science
4 V-Class Organic Lithium-Ion Batteries
While organic lithium-ion batteries have attracted great attention due to their high theoretical capacities, high-voltage organic cathode materials remain unexplored. In article number 2200187, Yuto Katsuyama, Hiroaki Kobayashi, Itaru Honma, and co-workers report the electrochemistry of croconic acid at high voltage. Theoretical and experimental investigations confirm the two enolates in croconic acid show around 4 V redox, which can be utilized for energy storage.
Abstract
While organic batteries have attracted great attention due to their high theoretical capacities, high-voltage organic active materials (> 4 V vs Li/Li+) remain unexplored. Here, density functional theory calculations are combined with cyclic voltammetry measurements to investigate the electrochemistry of croconic acid (CA) for use as a lithium-ion battery cathode material in both dimethyl sulfoxide and γ-butyrolactone (GBL) electrolytes. DFT calculations demonstrate that CA dilitium salt (CA–Li2) has two enolate groups that undergo redox reactions above 4.0 V and a material-level theoretical energy density of 1949 Wh kg–1 for storing four lithium ions in GBL—exceeding the value of both conventional inorganic and known organic cathode materials. Cyclic-voltammetry measurements reveal a highly reversible redox reaction by the enolate group at ≈4 V in both electrolytes. Battery-performance tests of CA as lithium-ion battery cathode in GBL show two discharge voltage plateaus at 3.9 and 3.1 V, and a discharge capacity of 102.2 mAh g–1 with no capacity loss after five cycles. With the higher discharge voltages compared to the known, state-of-the-art organic small molecules, CA promises to be a prime cathode-material candidate for future high-energy-density lithium-ion organic batteries.
On April 15, an R&D team from Changzhou Liyuan New Energy Co made an announcement in Nanjing that the company had made a technological breakthrough on LFP cathode material, which significantly improved LFP’s performance, as well as charging rate, at low temperature.
An EV powered by conventional LFP battery has its own obvious disadvantage of range anxiety, that is, its range is often around 50% of its claiming NEDC / WLTP / EPA range at low temperatures such as -20℃.
The new LFP material, "LFP-1", is claimed to be developed by more than 20 R&D experts from its Shenzhen Research Center after more than 2,000 repeated experiments in eight years and the R&D team has won 5 patents with it.
The breakthrough performances of “LFP-1” are reported to be achieved by establishing high-speed lithium ion transport channels inside the cathode material together with state-of-the-art “energy spheres” technology; and the material features:
Increasing the discharge capacity rate of LFP battery from 55% to 85% at -20℃ degrees, and from nearly zero to 57% at -40℃ degrees.
Achieving a range of 500 kilometers in just 15 minutes’ 4C rate fast charging. In comparison, an EV powered by conventional LFP battery usually needs 40 minutes’ fast charge to achieve a range of about 550 kilometers.
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