Enhanced performance of sulfone-based electrolytes at lithium ion battery electrodes, including the LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 high voltage cathode

In an extension of our previous studies of sulfone-containing electrolytes for lithium batteries, we report tests of sulfone-carbonate, and all-sulfone, electrolytes in a variety of anode and cathode half cells. While the all-sulfone electrolyte appears promising at the graphite anode in early cycles, it fails at the high voltage cathode and will not be further tested. On the other hand a sulfone-carbonate mixed solvent performs very well (97% capacity retention after 100 cycles with 99-100% coulomb efficiency) at the LiNi0.5M1.5O4 (LNMO) cathode, and also at the Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) anode, both of which are being developed for high power applications. Published by Elsevier B.V.