Differences in Interfacial Reactivity of Graphite and Lithium Metal Battery Electrodes Investigated Via Operando Gas Analysis

Gases evolved from lithium batteries can drastically affect their performance and safety; for example, cell swelling is a serious safety issue. Here, we combine operando pressure measurements and online electrochemical mass spectrometry measurements to identify the nature and quantity of gases formed in batteries with graphite and lithium metal electrodes. We demonstrate that ethylene, a main gas evolved in SEI formation reactions, is quickly consumed at lithium metal electrodes unless they have been pretreated in the electrolyte. Polyolefins such as polyethylene are suggested as the possible reaction product from ethylene consumption, evidencing another pathway of SEI formation that had been previously overlooked because it does not produce any gas product.