Effect of Counter Anions on Solid Electrolyte Interphase Formation on Graphite Electrodes in Propylene Carbonate-based Electrolyte Solutions

Herein, the effect of counter anions on the formation of a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) in a propylene carbonate (PC)-based electrolyte solution was investigated. Although the reversible capacities were different, reversible intercalation and de-intercalation of lithium ions occurred in the graphite negative electrode in the PC-based electrolyte solutions containing 1 M LiClO4, LiPF6, LiBF4, and LiCF3SO3 at low temperature (-15 degrees C). This indicated that the surface films acted as an effective SEI to suppress further co-intercalation and decomposition reactions at low temperature. However, the SEIs formed at the low temperature were unstable in 1 M LiPF6 and LiBF4/PC at room temperature (25 degrees C). On the other hand, increasing reversible capacity was confirmed in the case of LiCF3SO3/PC at room temperature, because the SEI formed at the low temperature was still maintained. These results suggest that counter anions are an important factor to consider for the formation of effective SEIs in PC-based electrolyte solutions.