This study reports the formulation of innovative electrolytes designed to improve safety, sustainability, and compatibility with LiNi0.92Mn0.04Co0.04O2 (NMC92) cathodes. The use of bio-based solvents (γ-valerolactone, GVL) and safe, stable, innovative co-solvents (diethylene glycol butyl ethyl ether, DEGBEE) is investigated in combination with imide- and borate-based salts, demonstrating reduced flammability and enhanced transport properties. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal their advantageous solvation characteristics, highlighting increased lithium-ion mobility in GVL-based electrolytes due to diminished ionic clustering. Overall, the investigated electrolytes exhibit outstanding electrochemical performance with NMC92 cathodes in a half-cell configuration, retaining above 80% of their initial capacity after 300 galvanostatic cycles at 1 C and an enhanced rate capability. This behavior is attributed to the inorganic nature of the resulting cathode-electrolyte interphase, as confirmed by ex situ x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Finally, the suitability of this novel formulation for real-scale application is evaluated at the pouch-cell level, demonstrating similar performance to benchmark formulations while enhancing overall device safety and sustainability.
Rational Formulation of Ether‐Lactone Electrolytes for Safe and Sustainable Ni‐Rich Lithium‐Ion Batteries / Gómez‐urbano, Juan Luis; Binder, Markus; Dwiputra, Endy Nugroho; Diemant, Thomas; Bresser, Dominic; Pierini, Adriano; Cioffi, Andrea; Bodo, Enrico; Brutti, Sergio; Koželj, Matjaž; Gouveia, Tom; Bremond, Emma; Ladam, Alix; Fantini, Sébastien; Sananes‐israel, Susan; Landa‐medrano, Imanol; De Meatza, Iratxe; Balducci, Andrea. - In: ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE. INTERNATIONAL EDITION. - ISSN 1433-7851. - (2026). [10.1002/anie.202526145]
Rational Formulation of Ether‐Lactone Electrolytes for Safe and Sustainable Ni‐Rich Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Pierini, Adriano;Cioffi, Andrea;Bodo, Enrico;Brutti, Sergio;
2026
Abstract
This study reports the formulation of innovative electrolytes designed to improve safety, sustainability, and compatibility with LiNi0.92Mn0.04Co0.04O2 (NMC92) cathodes. The use of bio-based solvents (γ-valerolactone, GVL) and safe, stable, innovative co-solvents (diethylene glycol butyl ethyl ether, DEGBEE) is investigated in combination with imide- and borate-based salts, demonstrating reduced flammability and enhanced transport properties. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal their advantageous solvation characteristics, highlighting increased lithium-ion mobility in GVL-based electrolytes due to diminished ionic clustering. Overall, the investigated electrolytes exhibit outstanding electrochemical performance with NMC92 cathodes in a half-cell configuration, retaining above 80% of their initial capacity after 300 galvanostatic cycles at 1 C and an enhanced rate capability. This behavior is attributed to the inorganic nature of the resulting cathode-electrolyte interphase, as confirmed by ex situ x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Finally, the suitability of this novel formulation for real-scale application is evaluated at the pouch-cell level, demonstrating similar performance to benchmark formulations while enhancing overall device safety and sustainability.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
