Customized Electrolyte Additives Boost Battery Cell Performance

Phosphazene-Based Electrolyte Additives Stabilize Silicon-Based Lithium-Ion Batteries - Silicon (Si) is considered a promising anode material in next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIB). Its practical application has so far been hindered by challenges such as capacity losses during battery operation. A team from MEET Battery Research Center at the University of Münster developed tailored phosphazene-based electrolyte additives to enhance the performance of silicon-based cells. In their study, the researchers also investigated the subtle interactions during battery operation, thus providing important fundamentals on the way to commercializing silicon-based lithium-ion batteries. Electrolyte as the Key to Cell Optimization. Silicon as anode material suffers from significant volume changes during battery operation, leading to constant breakage and (re)formation of the Solid Electrolyte Interphase , consumption of electrolyte and loss of active lithium. Loss of capacity and eventually cell death are the consequences.