ABSTRACT
Highly salt-concentrated aqueous solutions are a new class of electrolytes, which provide a wide potential window exceeding 3 V and, hence, realize possibly inexpensive, safe, and high-energy-density storage devices. Herein, we investigate the evolution of the coordination structure and electronic state depending on the salt concentration through soft X-ray emission spectroscopy and first-principles molecular dynamics calculations. Close to the concentration limit, categorized as a "hydrate melt," a long-range hydrogen-bond network of water molecules disappears with emerging localized electronic states that resemble those in the gas phase. Such localized electronic states are attributed not only to their geometrically isolated nature but also to their dominant electrostatic interaction with Li+ cations. Therefore, the electrical properties of water in the hydrate melt can be more gaslike than liquidlike.
ABSTRACT
Aqueous electrolytes have the potential to overcome some of the safety issues associated with current Li-ion batteries intended for large-scale applications such as stationary use. We recently discovered a lithium-salt dihydrate melt, viz., Li(TFSI)0.7(BETI)0.3·2H2O, which can provide a wide potential window of over 3 V; however, its reductive stability strongly depends on the electrode material. To understand the underlying mechanism, the interfacial structures on several electrodes (C, Al, and Pt) were investigated by conducting molecular dynamics simulation under the constraint of the electrode potential. The results showed that the high adsorption force on the surface of the metal electrodes is responsible for the increased water density, thus degrading the reductive stability of the electrolyte. Notably, the anion orientation on Pt at a low potential is unfavorable for the formation of a stable anion-derived solid electrolyte interphase, thus promoting hydrogen evolution. Hence, the interfacial structures that depend on the material and potential of the electrode mainly determine the reductive stability of hydrate-melt electrolytes.
