Synthesis of Ionic Liquid Based Electrolytes, Assembly of Li-ion Batteries, and Measurements of Performance at High Temperature

Summary

Here, we describe protocols to prepare phosphonium-based ionic liquid and lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide salt electrolytes, and assemble a non-flammable and high temperature functioning lithium-ion coin cell battery.

Abstract

The chemical instability of the traditional electrolyte remains a safety issue in widely used energy storage devices such as Li-ion batteries. Li-ion batteries for use in devices operating at elevated temperatures require thermally stable and non-flammable electrolytes. Ionic liquids (ILs), which are non-flammable, non-volatile, thermally stable molten salts, are an ideal replacement for flammable and low boiling point organic solvent electrolytes currently used today. We herein describe the procedures to: 1) synthesize mono- and di-phosphonium ionic liquids paired with chloride or bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (TFSI) anions; 2) measure the thermal properties and stability of these ionic liquids by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA); 3) measure the electrochemical properties of the ionic liquids by cyclic voltammetry (CV); 4) prepare electrolytes containing lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonamide; 5) measure the conductivity of the electrolytes as a function of temperature; 6) assemble a coin cell battery with two of the electrolytes along with a Li metal anode and LiCoO₂ cathode; and 7) evaluate battery performance at 100 °C. We additionally describe the challenges in execution as well as the insights gained from performing these experiments.

Introduction

Li-ion batteries are devices that transform energy between electrical energy and chemical energy and provide a convenient means to store and to deliver energy on demand and on-the-go. Today, Li-ion batteries dominate the portable electronics market because of their high energy density and re-chargeability, and are of interest for large-scale and specialty applications, such as down-hole drilling and automotive.^1-5 Batteries are composed of four primary components: cathode, anode, separator, and electrolyte. While the chemistry of the two electrodes dictates the theoretical energy density of the battery, the safety and working temperature are mainly limited ....

Protocol

1.Synthesis of Mono- and Di-phosphonium Ionic Liquids Paired with Chloride (Cl) and Bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (TFSI) Anions

NOTE: The procedure for the mono-phosphonium ionic liquid possessing three hexyl and one decyl alkyl chain surrounding the phosphonium cation is described, and this ionic liquid is abbreviated as mono-HexC10Cl. The same procedure is repeated using 1,10-dichlorodecane to obtain the di-phosphonium ionic liquid in high yield, and this ionic liquid is abbreviated as di-HexC10Cl.

1. While in a glove box under argon, weigh out trihexylphosphine (8.3 g, 29 mmol) using a glass pipet, and dispense into a heavy w....

Results

The ionic liquids, mono-HexC10Cl and di-HexC10Cl, were prepared via a nucleophilic reaction, and a subsequent halide exchange reaction gave the mono-HexC10TFSI and di-HexC10TFSI ionic liquids, respectively (Figure 1A).¹⁴ All four ionic liquids were colorless and slightly viscous liquids (Figure 1B). A representative ¹H NMR of the mono-HexC10TFSI ionic liquid is shown in Figure 1C, and along with mass spectrometry and.......

Discussion

Our approach to develop non-flammable and high temperature functional Li-ion batteries involves the synthesis of new ionic liquid electrolytes and their subsequent evaluation in prototypical coin cells. Specifically, mono-HexC10TFSI and di-HexC10TFSI based electrolytes were tested in a coin cell possessing a Li metal anode and LiCoO₂ cathode. The critical steps within this approach are to: 1) identify the lead electrolyte according to a set of design specifications; 2) maintain dryness and ensure water does no.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Silicone oil	Sigma-Aldrich	85409
Potassium hydroxide	Sigma-Aldrich	221473	Corrosive
Rotary evaporator	Buchi	R-124
High-vacuum pump	Welch	8907
Nitrogen, ultra high purity	Airgas	NI UHP300	Compressed gas
Tetrahydrofuran, stabilized with BHT	Pharmco-Aaper	346000	Flammable. Dried before use.
Dichloromethane	Pharmco-Aaper	313000	Flammable, toxic.
Separatory funnel (1 L)	Fisher Scientific	13-678-606
Sodium sulfate	Sigma-Aldrich	239313
Ethanol, absolute	Pharmco-Aaper	111USP200	Flammable, toxic.
Buchner funnel	Fisher Scientific	FB-966-F
Methanol	Pharmco-Aaper	339000ACS	Flammable, toxic.
Triethylamine (anhydrous)	Sigma-Aldrich	471283	Toxic, flammable, harmful to environment
Glass syringe	Hamilton Company	1700-series
Deuterated chloroform	Cambridge Isotopes Laboratories, Inc.	DLM-29-10	Toxic
Nuclear magnetic resonance instrument	Varian	V400
Hydrogen	Airgas	HY HP300	Highly flammable.
Hexanes	Pharmco-Aaper	359000ACS	Toxic, flammable.
Differential scanning calorimeter	TA Instruments	Q100
N,N-dimethylformamide	Sigma-Aldrich	227056	Toxic, flammable.
Trihexylphosphone	TCI America		Toxic, flammable.
1-Chlorodecane	Sigma-Aldrich		Toxic, flammable.
Bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide lithium salt	Sigma-Aldrich		Hydrophilic
1,10-dichlorodecane	Sigma-Aldrich		Toxic, flammable.
Thermal Gravemetric Analysis (TGA)	TA Q50	TA instruments
Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC)	TA Q100	TA instruments
Controlled Strain Rheometer	AR 1000
Conductivity Meter	Consort	K912	4-electrode cell
Potentiostat/Galvanostat	Princeton Applied Research	VersaStat MC4	Electrochemical testing
Separators	Celgard	C480	polypropylene/polyethylene
CR2032 coin cells	MTI Corp.	EQ-CR2032-CASE
LiCoO2 electrode	MTI Corp.	EQ-CR2032	Cathode material
lithium metal	Alfa Aesar	10769	Anode Material
Stainless Steel Spacer	MTI Corp.	EQ-CR20-Spacer304-02	15.5 mm Dia x 0.2 mm
Wave Spring	MTI Corp.	EQ-CR20WS-Spring304
Electric Coin Cell Crimping Machine	MTI Corp.	MSK-160D
Glove box	Mbraun		Water free, oxygen free operation