Exploring the impact of synergistic dual-additive electrolytes on 5 V-class LiNi0·5Mn1·5O4 cathodes

Tris (trimethylsilyl) phosphate (TMSP) and tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) phosphate (TTFP) was added to carbonate solvent-based electrolytes as dual-additives to enhance the performance of LiNi0·5Mn1·5O4 (LNMO). The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results revealed that both TMSP with high oxidation ability and TTFP with high oxidation resistance participated in the formation of cathode–electrolyte interphase (CEI) films. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy confirmed that the constructed CEI films had excellent electronic insulation and ionic conductivity, reducing the interfacial impedance of the LNMO electrode, and improving the electrochemical performance of LNMO/Li half-cells and LNMO/Li4Ti5O12 full-cells. As measured by the nuclear magnetic resonance, the incorporation of TMSP and TTFP significantly reduced the HF content in the electrolytes. Therefore, both LNMO/Li half-cells (500 cycles with 95.7% capacity retention) and LNMO/Li4Ti5O12 full-cells (200 cycles with 79.9% capacity retention) displayed higher cycling stabilities at 5 C owing to the synergistic effect of TMSP and TTFP. In comparison, capacity retentions of ∼76.5% after 500 cycles and ∼37.2% after 200 cycles were respectively achieved for the LNMO/Li half-cells and LNMO/Li4Ti5O12 full-cells with the standard electrolyte at 5 C. This study provides strong evidence that additive combinations can improve the electrochemical performance of high-energy and high-voltage cathode materials.