Development of Fluorine-Free Electrolytes for Aqueous-Processed Olivine-Type Phosphate Cathodes

Environmental impacts and resource availability are significant concerns for the future of lithium-ion batteries. This study focuses on developing novel fluorine-free electrolytes compatible with aqueous-processed cobalt-free cathode materials. The new electrolyte contains lithium 1,1,2,3,3-pentacyanopropenide (LiPCP) salt. After screening various organic carbonates, a mixture of 30:70 wt.% ethylene carbonate and dimethyl carbonate was chosen as the solvent. The optimal salt concentration, yielding the highest conductivity of 9.6 mS·cm−1 at 20 °C, was 0.8 mol·kg−1. Vinylene carbonate was selected as a SEI-stabilizing additive, and the electrolyte demonstrated stability up to 4.4 V vs. Li+/Li. LiFePO4 and LiMn0.6Fe0.4PO4 were identified as suitable cobalt-free cathode materials. They were processed using sodium carboxymethyl cellulose as a binder and water as the solvent. Performance testing of various cathode compositions was conducted using cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic cycling with the LiPCP-based electrolyte and a standard LiPF6-based one. The optimized cathode compositions, with an 87:10:3 ratio of active material to conductive additive to binder, showed good compatibility and performance with the new electrolyte. Aqueous-processed LiFePO4 and LiMn0.6Fe0.4PO4 achieved capacities of 160 mAh·g−1 and 70 mAh·g−1 at C/10 after 40 cycles, respectively. These findings represent the first stage of investigating LiPCP for the development of greener and more sustainable lithium-ion batteries.