The influence and mechanism of transition metal ions dissolution in lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion battery (LIB) has been extensively applied in the field of power vehicles and energy storage. Extending the service life is the research priority. Transition metal (TM) ions dissolved from the cathode are considered a key factor affecting battery electrochemical properties. To reveal comprehensively the mechanisms of influence of TM ions at the full-cell level, this paper reviews the recent efforts of the exploration of TM ions affecting lithium-ion batteries using conventional metal oxide as cathode matched with graphite, silicon-containing, or Li metal as anode, respectively. The existence of TM ions in electrolyte or solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) films can change the morphology, the structure as well as the component concentration of the SEI films and accelerate the side reaction as a catalyst. In the comparison of different TM ions, the failure mechanism could be diverse, and it is proved that Mn ion is the most detrimental and extensively studied. However, in some special lithium-ion battery systems, TM ions are even in favour of electrochemical performance by forming LiF-rich SEI components.