Highly Enforced Rate Capability of a Graphite Anode via Interphase Chemistry Tailoring Based on an Electrolyte Additive

The rate capability of lithium-ion batteries is highly dependent on the interphase chemistry of graphite anodes. Herein, we demonstrate an anode interphase tailoring based on a novel electrolyte additive, lithium dodecyl sulfate (LiDS), which greatly improves the rate capability and cyclic stability of graphite anodes. Upon application of 1% LiDS in a base electrolyte, the discharge capacity at 2 C is improved from 102 to 240 mAh g–1 and its capacity retention is enhanced from 51% to 94% after 200 cycles at 0.5 C. These excellent performances are attributed to the preferential absorption of LiDS and the as-constructed interphase chemistry that is mainly composed of organic long-chain polyether and inorganic lithium sulfite. The long-chain polyether possesses flexibility endowing the interphase with robustness, while its combination with inorganic lithium sulfite accelerates lithium intercalation/deintercalation kinetics via decreasing the resistance for charge transfer.