The roles of a partially fluorinated ether (PFE) based on a mixture of 1,1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4-nonafluoro-4-methoxybutane and 2-(difluoro(methoxy)methyl)-1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane on the oxidative durability of an electrolyte under high-voltage conditions, the rate capability of the graphite and 5 V-class LiNi0.4Mn1.6O4 (LNMO) electrodes, and the cycling performance of graphite/LNMO full cells are examined. Our findings indicate that the use of PFE as a cosolvent in the electrolyte yields thermally stable electrolytes with self-extinguishing ability. Electrochemical tests confirm that the PFE combined with fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) effectively alleviates the oxidative decomposition of the electrolyte at the high-voltage LNMO cathode and enables reversible electrochemical reactions of the graphite anodes and LNMO cathodes at high rates. Moreover, the combination of PFE, which mitigates electrolyte decomposition at high voltages, and FEC, which stabilizes the anode-electrolyte interface, enables the reversible cycling of high-voltage full cells (graphite/LNMO) with a capacity retention of 70.3% and a high Coulombic efficiency of 99.7% after 100 cycles at 1C rate at 30 °C.
Keywords: 5 V-class spinel-type cathode; fluoroethylene carbonate; lithium-ion battery; partially fluorinated ether; solid electrolyte interphase.