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Thiophene-2-carbonitrile: a bifunctional electrolyte additive to improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries

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Abstract

Thiophene-2-carbonitrile (CT) is used as an electrolyte additive to improve the cycle performance of Li/LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) cells. The effects of CT on the electrode interface and cycling performance of Li/LNMO cells are studied by electrochemical methods such as charge–discharge measurements, cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and other characterization methods. Results show that CT can be oxidized before the electrolyte, forming a polythiophene protective film on the electrode surface, which improves the interphase stability of the electrode/electrolyte. The Li|1.0 M LiPF6-EC/EMC/DMC (1:1:1, v/v/v) |LNMO cell with 0.1 wt% CT shows a capacity retention of 91.2% after 300 cycles at a charge–discharge rate of 1 C between 3.5 and 4.95 V. The addition of thiophene-2-carbonitrile can significantly improve the cycle performance of Li/LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4.

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This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

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  1. College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jishou University, Jishou, 416000, Hunan, China

    Caishuo Yin, Xianming Wu, Xianwen Wu, Xiuting Wu & Mengfan Zhang

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Yin, C., Wu, X., Wu, X. et al. Thiophene-2-carbonitrile: a bifunctional electrolyte additive to improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries. Ionics 29, 1813–1821 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-023-04939-7

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