Suppression of electrochemical decomposition of propylene carbonate (PC) on a graphite anode in PC base electrolyte with catechol carbonate

The electrochemical decomposition of propylene carbonate(PC) on a graphite electrode in 1 M (M=mol.dm(-3)) LiPF6/PC-DEC(1:I in volume ratio) or PC-DMC(1:1) is suppressed remarkably by an addition of more than 0.5 wt.% catechol carbonate, or 3-methylcatechol carbonate or 4-methylcatechol carbonate. These compounds have possibility to act as radical scavenger for FC radical. A lithium ion battery composed of LiCoO2, MCMB6-28(graphitized mesocarbon microbeads) and 1 Nf LiPF6/PC-DEC(1:1) or PC-DMC(1:1) containing 2 wt.% 3-methylcatechol carbonate shows a reversible capacity of 90 mAh/g-LiCoO2. Namely catechol carbonate and analogs could be used as additives for lithium ion batteries with PC base electrolyte.