Electrolytes comprising polycyclic aromatic amine derivatives

1. A non-aqueous electrolyte composition, comprising:

(a) an electrolyte salt;

(b) a non-aqueous electrolyte carrier; and

(c) one or more naphthyl amines according to formula (II) or (III) or salt thereof

wherein each n is independently selected from 1, 2, 3 or 4

R 2 is H, C 1-24 alkyl, C 5-8 cyclic alkyl, benzyl, C 2-24 alkyl interrupted by —O—, SO 2 —, —CO— or —COO—, and/ or substituted by hydroxy, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyloxy, carboxylate, or sulfate; or benzyl substituted by alkyl, hydroxy, C 1-12 alkoxy, or sulfate; and

each R 3 and R 3 ′ are independently selected from the group consisting of C 1-24 alkyl, C 5-8 cyclic alkyl, phenyl, benzyl, styryl, cumyl, hydroxy, C 1-12 alkoxy, and sulfate.

2. The non-aqueous electrolyte composition according to claim 1 wherein

n is 1 or 2;

each R 3 and R 3 ′ are independently selected from C 4-8 alkyl, phenyl, benzyl or C 1-12 alkoxy; and

R 2 is H, C 1-24 alkyl, C 5-8 cyclic alkyl, benzyl, or benzyl substituted by alkyl or C 1-12 alkoxy.

3. The non-aqueous electrolyte composition according to claim 1 wherein the one or more naphthyl amines are selected from compounds of formula (II).

4. The non-aqueous electrolyte composition of claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte composition is a gel or liquid electrolyte.

5. The non-aqueous electrolyte composition of claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte is a solid electrolyte.

6. The non-aqueous electrolyte composition of claim 1 comprising the one or more naphthyl amines according to formula (II) or (III) in an amount of from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight based on the total weight of the electrolyte composition.

7. The non-aqueous electrolyte composition of claim 1 , wherein the non-aqueous electrolyte carrier is selected from the group consisting of dimethyl carbonates, diethyl carbonates, diphenyl carbonates, ethyl methyl carbonates, vinylene carbonates, propylene carbonates, ethylene carbonates, diethylene carbonates, butylene carbonates, methyl ethylene carbonate, propionates, acetates, 1,2-di-methoxy ethanes, 1,2-di-ethoxy ethanes, tetrahydrofurans, diethyl ether, gamma-valerolactones, gamma-butyrolactones, carboxylate esters, nitriles, amides, sulfones, and sulfides.

8. The non-aqueous electrolyte composition of claim 1 , further comprising a phosphorus-containing compound selected from the group consisting of phosphate, fluorophosphate and phosphazene.

9. The non-aqueous electrolyte composition according to claim 1 wherein the electrolyte salt (a) comprises a lithium salt.

10. A battery comprising:

a positive electrode;

a negative electrode; and

a non-aqueous electrolyte composition according to claim 1 .

11. A method for reducing deposit formation at an electrode which is in contact with an electrolyte, by incorporating into the electrolyte one or more naphthyl amines according to formula (II) or (III) or salt thereof

wherein each n is independently selected from 1, 2, 3 or 4

R 2 is H, C 1-24 alkyl, C 5-8 cyclic alkyl, benzyl, C 2-24 alkyl interrupted by —O—, SO 2 —, —CO—or —COO—, and/ or substituted by hydroxy, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyloxy, carboxylate, or sulfate; or benzyl substituted by alkyl, hydroxy, C 1-12 alkoxy, or sulfate; and

each R 3 and R 3 ′ are independently selected from the group consisting of C 1-24 alkyl, C 5-8 cyclic alkyl, phenyl, benzyl, styryl, cumyl, hydroxy, C 1-12 alkoxy, and sulfate.