Quaternary Ammonium-Based Room Temperature Ionic Liquids as Components of Carbonate Electrolytes for Li-ion Batteries: Electrochemical Performance and Thermal Properties

Electrochemical performance of Li-ion cells with LiMn2O4 cathodes and graphite anodes with carbonates electrolytes containing quaternary ammonium-based room temperature ionic liquids (ILs) is investigated. Eight different ILs based on tetraalkylammonium, pyrrolidinium or piperidinium cations paired with bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide or tris(pentafluoroethyl) trifluorophosphate anions are examined in combination with dimethyl carbonate as a main solvent and fluoroethylene carbonate as a solid electrolyte interface forming agent. It is shown that cycling properties of the cells are strongly affected by the content of ILs in the electrolyte mixtures and its increase corresponds to lower discharge capacity retention. Since viscosity and conductivity of ILs are of a great importance for the electrolytes formulation, some kind of combined parameter should be used for the assessment of IL applicability and calculated values of Walden products for neat ILs represent one of the possible options. Besides, positive effect of ILs on reduction of flammability and enhancement of thermal stability of electrolytes in contact with charged electrodes have been demonstrated by means of self-extinguishing time test and differential scanning calorimetry respectively.