Anion intercalation into graphitic carbon from ionic
liquid based electrolytes for high performance
dual-ion batteries
T. Placke*, O. Fromm, R. Klöpsch, G. Schmülling, P.
Bieker, S. F. Lux, H.-W. Meyer, S. Passerini, M. Winter
University of Münster, Institute of Physical Chemistry,
MEET Battery Research Center,
Corrensstraße 46, 48149 Münster, Germany
*tobiasplacke@uni-muenster.de
Graphite is a redox-amphoteric intercalation host
and can be intercalated by cations or anions yielding to
so-called donor-type or acceptor-type graphite
intercalation compounds [1, 2]. Examples for anions
capable to form acceptor-type GICs are hexa- or
tetrafluoride guest species such as PF
6
-
, AsF
6
-
or BF
4
-
[3]
and even large carbon-based anions such as
tris(trifluoromethane-sulfonyl) methide ((CF
3
SO
2
)
3
C
-
) or
bis(trifluoromethane-sulfonyl) imide ((CF
3
SO
2
)
2
N
-
) [4, 5].
Graphite as the positive electrode in
electrochemical energy storage systems has been first
introduced by patents of McCullough and the publications
of Carlin [6] et al. in the 1990s. In their work, they build a
so-called “dual-carbon cell” using graphite as both the
negative and positive electrode. This concept was further
examined in the works of Seel and Dahn, where they
investigated the intercalation of PF
6
-
anions into graphite
from organic solvent based electrolytes such as sulfones
[7]. Recently, different types of anion intercalation based
energy storage systems are in the focus of research.
Examples are the so-called hybrid supercapacitors [8], or
systems that are based on a graphite cathode and a metal
oxide anode, such as TiO
2
or MoO
3
, working at potentials
above 1 V vs. Li/Li
+
[9, 10], therefore proposed as safe
energy storage systems as there is no possibility of
oxygen generation at the cathode and no risk of lithium
plating or dendrite formation at the anode.
Nevertheless, one major drawback of these
systems is the limited oxidative electrolyte stability at the
high working potentials of the graphite positive electrode.
As the cathode potential during anion intercalation
approaches 5 V vs. Li/Li
+
or even beyond, the organic
solvent based electrolytes suffer from these highly
oxidizing conditions and electrolyte oxidation takes place,
resulting in insufficient discharge/charge efficiencies and
continuous electrolyte degradation. A further issue
concerning the organic solvent based electrolytes is the
fact that solvent co-intercalation reactions between the
graphite interlayer gaps can occur and therefore
eventually lead to graphite exfoliation reactions.
In this contribution, we present promising results
for anion intercalation into graphite from ionic liquid
based electrolytes (ILs) to build up a cell, which we call
“dual-ion cell”. As the compatibility of ILs with graphite
negative electrodes is poor, we started with alternative
anodes, namely metallic lithium and Li
4
Ti
5
O
12
, as they
display good compatibilities with ILs. The
electrochemical system is based on intercalation of the
anion bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (TFSI
-
) into the
graphite cathode and the lithium ion insertion in LTO or
lithium deposition onto metallic lithium as anode. Both
ions derive from an electrolyte containing lithium
bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (LiTFSI) in the ionic
liquid N-butyl-N-methylpyrroli-dinium bis(trifluorome-
thanesulfonyl) imide (Pyr
14
TFSI). The performance has
been studied in terms of cell cut-off voltage, temperature,
rate and self discharge. Depending on the cut-off voltage
and temperature, coulombic efficiencies of more than
99 % and discharge capacities exceeding 100 mAh g
-1
can
be achieved. In addition, this system provides an excellent
cycling stability and capacity retention of more than 99 %
after 200 cycles, outperforming any kind of organic
solvent based dual-ion cell.
0 50 100 150 200
0
20
40
60
80
charge capacity
discharge capacity
efficiency
cycle number
anode: metallic Li
cathode: KS6 graphite
electrolyte: Pyr
14
TFSI - 1M LiTFSI
Current: 50 mA g
-1
Cell cut-off: 5.0 V
capacity / mAh g
-1
0
20
40
60
80
100
efficiency / %
Figure 1. Charge/discharge cycling performance for the
met. Li/ KS6-graphite dual-ion cell.
0 20 40 60 80 100
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.5
Cut-off 4.80 V
Cut-off 5.00 V
Cut-off 5.20 V
cell voltage / V
capacity / mAh g
-1
anode/cathode:metallic lithium vs. KS6 graphite
electrolyte: Pyr
14
TFSI, 1M LiTFSI
Figure 2. Cell voltage vs. specific capacity profiles for
different upper cell cut-off voltages for the met. Li/ KS6-
graphite dual-ion cell; electrolyte: Pyr
14
TFSI-1M LiTFSI.
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