Solvent Design for Earth-Abundant, Mn-Rich Cathodes

As concerns regarding safety, cost, and material availability continue to rise, cathode chemistries based on earth-abundant, sustainable Mn become an appealing choice. The Li-rich, Mn-rich (LMR) layered-structure cathode materials are promising candidates as they have greater galvanometric energy density compared to conventional cathode materials like LFP and LCO. Existing LMR cathodes still encounter issues such as capacity degradation and surface impedance rise, which highly associated with Mn dissolution/deposition. In this presentation, we will discuss the design of electrolyte solvents that mitigate Mn dissolution. By eliminating highly solvating solvents like ethylene carbonate (EC) and introducing low-solvating solvents, it becomes possible to effectively inhibit Mn dissolution, resulting in significantly enhanced cyclability.