Electrolyte Formulations
An electrolyte formulation including additive compounds to improve the mechanical stability of the solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) on a silicon anode in a lithium ion battery as compared to a conventional electrolyte formulation. Some electrolyte solutions are formulated to contain no ethylene carbonate.
1 . A battery comprising:
a first electrode,
a second electrode comprising silicon, and
an electrolyte solution formulated from a lithium salt, an organic solvent, and an additive, wherein the additive comprises lithium nitrate at a concentration exceeding the solubility limit for the organic solvent.
2 . The battery of claim 1 wherein the organic solvent is not ethylene carbonate.
3 . The battery of claim 2 wherein the organic solvent comprises propylene carbonate.
4 . The battery of claim 1 wherein the first electrode comprises lithium and manganese.
5 . The battery of claim 1 wherein the first electrode comprises lithium, manganese, and nickel.
6 . The battery of claim 1 wherein the first electrode comprises lithium, manganese, nickel, and cobalt.
7 . The battery of claim 6 wherein the first electrode comprises LiNi 0.4 Mn 0.4 Co 0.2 O 2 .
8 . A battery comprising:
a first electrode,
a second electrode, and
an electrolyte solution formulated from a lithium salt, an organic solvent blend, and an additive;
wherein the organic solvent blend does not include ethylene carbonate and the additive comprises lithium nitrate.
9 . The battery of claim 1 wherein the second electrode comprises silicon.
10 . The battery of claim 1 wherein the second electrode is a silicon alloy.
11 . The battery of claim 8 wherein the organic solvent comprises propylene carbonate.
12 . The battery of claim 8 wherein the first electrode comprises lithium and manganese.
13 . The battery of claim 8 wherein the first electrode comprises lithium, manganese, and nickel.
14 . The battery of claim 8 wherein the first electrode comprises lithium, manganese, nickel, and cobalt.
15 . The battery of claim 14 wherein the first electrode comprises LiNi 0.4 Mn 0.4 Co 0.2 O 2 .
16 . A battery comprising:
a first electrode,
a second electrode comprising silicon, and
an electrolyte solution formulated from a lithium salt, an organic solvent, and an additive, wherein the additive comprises at least 0.5 weight percent of lithium nitrate.
17 . The battery of claim 16 wherein the organic solvent is not ethylene carbonate.
18 . The battery of claim 16 wherein the additive comprises at least 1.0 weight percent of lithium nitrate.
19 . The battery of claim 16 wherein the additive comprises at least 2.0 weight percent of lithium nitrate.
20 . The battery of claim 19 wherein the first electrode comprises LiNi 0.4 Mn 0.4 Co 0.2 O 2 .