Enhanced electrolyte performance by adopting Zwitterionic lithium-silica sulfobetaine silane as electrolyte additive for lithium-ion batteries

Zwitterionic lithium-silica sulfobetaine silane is fabricated by first synthesizing zwitterion sulfobetaine silane, grafting it onto hydrophilic silica to form silica sulfobetaine silane, and then lithiating the silica sulfobetaine silane. The resultant lithium-silica sulfobetaine silane additive is used as a liquid electrolyte additive in lithium-ion batteries with varying weight percentages in 1 M LiPF6 (ethylene carbonate/dimethyl carbonate = 1:1). The electrolytes with the lithium-silica sulfobetaine silane shows higher ionic conductivities (1.92 × 10−2 S cm−1 at RT and 1.62 × 10−3 S cm−1 at −20 °C) and greater electrochemical stability (anodic limit at ~5.5 V vs. Li/Li+) than the pure electrolyte (anodic limit at ~4.6 V vs. Li/Li+). The discharge capacity of the lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide/graphite cell is improved at higher C-rates with the addition of lithium-silica sulfobetaine silane due to increased ionic conductivity. The lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide/graphite cells with the lithium-silica sulfobetaine silane additive also show stable cycling performance. These findings warrant the use of lithium-silica sulfobetaine silane as an electrolyte additive in lithium-ion batteries. [Display omitted] •Zwitterion sulfobetaine silane is synthesized and grafted onto silica nanoparticles.•The additive enhances ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability.•Full cells have a stable cycle performance at 1C over 200 cycles.