Communication—Determination of the Formation Potential of Solid-Electrolyte Interphase in Amide-Type Ionic Liquids Containing Lithium Salts

The formation potentials of solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) were investigated in 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide (BMPFSA) and 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide (BMPTFSA) containing LiFSA and LiTFSA, respectively, by monitoring the redox reaction of ferrocene with high sensitivity. The SEI was found to affect the electrode kinetics of the outersphere electron transfer reaction. The SEIs with the thickness of less than a few nm formed in LiFSA/BMPFSA and LiTFSA/BMPTFSA at 2.4 and 2.5 V vs Li∣Li(I), respectively. The cathodic decomposition of FSA – and TFSA – was considered to be promoted by the interaction with Li + based on the ab-initio calculation.