ABSTRACT
The pursuit of new and better battery materials has given rise to numerous studies of the possibilities to use two-dimensional negative electrode materials, such as MXenes, in lithium-ion batteries. Nevertheless, both the origin of the capacity and the reasons for significant variations in the capacity seen for different MXene electrodes still remain unclear, even for the most studied MXene: Ti3C2 T x . Herein, freestanding Ti3C2 T x MXene films, composed only of Ti3C2 T x MXene flakes, are studied as additive-free negative lithium-ion battery electrodes, employing lithium metal half-cells and a combination of chronopotentiometry, cyclic voltammetry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy experiments. The aim of this study is to identify the redox reactions responsible for the observed reversible and irreversible capacities of Ti3C2 T x -based lithium-ion batteries as well as the reasons for the significant capacity variation seen in the literature. The results demonstrate that the reversible capacity mainly stems from redox reactions involving the T x -Ti-C titanium species situated on the surfaces of the MXene flakes, whereas the Ti-C titanium present in the core of the flakes remains electro-inactive. While a relatively low reversible capacity is obtained for electrodes composed of pristine Ti3C2 T x MXene flakes, significantly higher capacities are seen after having exposed the flakes to water and air prior to the manufacturing of the electrodes. This is ascribed to a change in the titanium oxidation state at the surfaces of the MXene flakes, resulting in increased concentrations of Ti(II), Ti(III), and Ti(IV) in the T x -Ti-C surface species. The significant irreversible capacity seen in the first cycles is mainly attributed to the presence of residual water in the Ti3C2 T x electrodes. As the capacities of Ti3C2 T x MXene negative electrodes depend on the concentration of Ti(II), Ti(III), and Ti(IV) in the T x -Ti-C surface species and the water content, different capacities can be expected when using different manufacturing, pretreatment, and drying procedures.
ABSTRACT
Dual-ion batteries (DIBs) generally operate beyond 4.7 V vs Li+/Li0 and rely on the intercalation of both cations and anions in graphite electrodes. Major challenges facing the development of DIBs are linked to electrolyte decomposition at the cathode-electrolyte interface (CEI), graphite exfoliation, and corrosion of Al current collectors. In this work, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is employed to gain a broad understanding of the nature and dynamics of the CEI built on anion-intercalated graphite cycled both in highly concentrated electrolytes (HCEs) of common lithium salts (LiPF6, LiFSI, and LiTFSI) in carbonate solvents and in a typical ionic liquid. Though Al metal current collectors were adequately stable in all HCEs, the Coulombic efficiency was substantially higher for HCEs based on LiFSI and LiTFSI salts. Specific capacities ranging from 80 to 100 mAh g-1 were achieved with a Coulombic efficiency above 90% over extended cycling, but cells with LiPF6-based electrolytes were characterized by <70% Coulombic efficiency and specific capacities of merely ca. 60 mAh g-1. The poor performance in LiPF6-containing electrolytes is indicative of the continual buildup of decomposition products at the interface due to oxidation, forming a thick interfacial layer rich in LixPFy, POxFy, LixPOyFz, and organic carbonates as evidenced by XPS. In contrast, insights from XPS analyses suggested that anion intercalation and deintercalation processes in the range from 3 to 5.1 V give rise to scant or extremely thin surface layers on graphite electrodes cycled in LiFSI- and LiTFSI-containing HCEs, even allowing for probing anions intercalated in the near-surface bulk. In addition, ex situ Raman, SEM and TEM characterizations revealed the presence of a thick coating on graphite particles cycled in LiPF6-based electrolytes regardless of salt concentration, while hardly any surface film was observed in the case of concentrated LiFSI and LiTFSI electrolytes.
