Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) require an electrolyte with high ionic conductivity as well as high thermal and electrochemical stability that can maintain a stable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer on the lithium metal anode surface. The borate anions tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)borate ([B(CF3)4]-), pentafluoroethyltrifluoroborate ([(C2F5)BF3]-), and pentafluoroethyldifluorocyanoborate ([(C2F5)BF2(CN)]-) have shown excellent physicochemical properties and electrochemical stability windows; however, the suitability of these anions as high-voltage LMB electrolytes components that can stabilise the Li anode is yet to be determined. In this work, density functional theory calculations show high reductive stability limits and low anion-cation interaction strengths for Li[B(CF3)4], Li[(C2F5)BF3], and Li[(C2F5)BF2(CN)] that surpass popular sulfonamide salts. Specifically, Li[B(CF3)4] has a calculated oxidative stability limit of 7.12 V vs. Li+/Li0 which is significantly higher than the other borate and sulfonamide salts (≤6.41 V vs. Li+/Li0). Using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, this study is the first to show that these borate anions can form an advantageous LiF-rich SEI layer on the Li anode at room (298 K) and elevated (358 K) temperatures. The interaction of the borate anions, particularly [B(CF3)4]-, with the Li+ and Li anode, suggests they are suitable inclusions in high-voltage LMB electrolytes that can stabilise the Li anode surface and provide enhanced ionic conductivity.
Keywords: DFT; Li-salt; SEI layer; battery; borate anion; electrolyte; lithium metal anode.