The challenges for further development of Li rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles are reviewed. Most important is safety, which requires development of a nonflammable electrolyte with either a larger window between its lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) or a constituent (or additive) that can develop rapidly a solid/ electrolyte-interface (SEI) layer to prevent plating of Li on a carbon anode during a fast charge of the battery. A high Li-ion conductivity (σ Li > 10 ―4 S/cm) in the electrolyte and across the electrode/ electrolyte interface is needed for a power battery. Important also is an increase in the density of the stored energy, which is the product of the voltage and capacity of reversible Li insertion/extraction into/from the electrodes. It will be difficult to design a better anode than carbon, but carbon requires formation of an SEI layer, which involves an irreversible capacity loss. The design of a cathode composed of environmentally benign, low-cost materials that has its electrochemical potential μ C well-matched to the HOMO of the electrolyte and allows access to two Li atoms per transition-metal cation would increase the energy density, but it is a daunting challenge. Two redox couples can be accessed where the cation redox couples are "pinned" at the top of the O 2p bands, but to take advantage of this possibility, it must be realized in a framework structure that can accept more than one Li atom per transition-metal cation. Moreover, such a situation represents an intrinsic voltage limit of the cathode, and matching this limit to the HOMO of the electrolyte requires the ability to tune the intrinsic voltage limit. Finally, the chemical compatibility in the battery must allow a long service life.

Challenges for Rechargeable Li Batteries

Lithium batteries: Status, prospects and future

Ionic liquids are room-temperature molten salts, composed mostly of organic ions that may undergo almost unlimited structural variations. This review covers the newest aspects of ionic liquids in applications where their ion conductivity is exploited; as electrochemical solvents for metal/semiconductor electrodeposition, and as batteries and fuel cells where conventional media, organic solvents (in batteries) or water (in polymer-electrolyte-membrane fuel cells), fail. Biology and biomimetic processes in ionic liquids are also discussed. In these decidedly different materials, some enzymes show activity that is not exhibited in more traditional systems, creating huge potential for bioinspired catalysis and biofuel cells. Our goal in this review is to survey the recent key developments and issues within ionic-liquid research in these areas. As well as informing materials scientists, we hope to generate interest in the wider community and encourage others to make use of ionic liquids in tackling scientific challenges.

Ionic-liquid materials for the electrochemical challenges of the future.

Electrolytes and interphases in Li-ion batteries and beyond.

Ionic liquids as electrolytes

Room temperature molten salts as lithium battery electrolyte

Aluminium corrosion in room temperature molten salt

Conductivities of electrolytes based on PEI-b-PEO-b-PEI triblock copolymers with lithium and copper TFSI salts

The electrochemical and spectroscopic properties of a new family of stable radical cations based on 2(3H)-thiazolone azine were investigated. All of the studied compounds display two redox processe...

Béatrice Garcia

Papers

Room temperature molten salts as lithium battery electrolyte

Aluminium corrosion in room temperature molten salt

Conductivities of electrolytes based on PEI-b-PEO-b-PEI triblock copolymers with lithium and copper TFSI salts

Electro- and spectroscopic studies of 2(3H)-thiazolone azine as precursors to air-stable radical cations