Energy Storage Science and Technology ›› 2025, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (3): 997-1009.doi: 10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2024.1123

• Emerging Investigator Issue of Energy Storage • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Research progress on nitrile compounds in high potential electrolytes

Nan LI1(), Jing MA1, Tingxiu HUANG1, Yixing SHEN2, Min SHEN1, Yiyi JIANG1, Tao HONG1(), Guoqiang MA1, Zifeng MA2   

  1. 1.Zhejiang Research Institute of Chemical Industry Ltd. , Hangzhou 310023, Zhejiang, China
    2.Shaoxing Research Institute of Renewable Energy and Molecular Engineering Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shaoxing 312300, Zhejiang, China
  • Received:2024-11-27 Revised:2024-12-25 Online:2025-03-28 Published:2025-04-28
  • Contact: Tao HONG E-mail:linan430316@163.com;hongtao_xg@sinochem.com

Abstract:

Increasing the working voltage is an effective strategy to enhance the energy density of lithium-ion batteries. However, issues such as electrolyte oxidation, transition metal ion dissolution, and structural degradation of cathode materials pose significant challenges, severely limiting their practical application. Consequently, the development of electrolytes with superior electrochemical stability has become a key research focus. Nitrile compounds, owing to their high dielectric constant and excellent oxidative stability, are regarded as ideal candidates for optimizing electrolytes in high-voltage systems. This review examines the functional mechanisms and performance characteristics of nitrile compounds as solvents and additives. To overcome the incompatibility of nitrile solvents with graphite and lithium metal, four optimization strategies are presented: high-concentration electrolytes, weakly solvated electrolytes, fluorinated nitrile electrolytes, and eutectic electrolytes. The review explores the practical applications and commercialization challenges associated with each strategy, emphasizing that additives currently represent the most effective approach. Furthermore, novel nitrile additives modified with chemical groups containing silicon, boron, or sulfur are introduced, and the mechanisms and potential applications of these functional groups are analyzed. Finally, the review summarizes the opportunities and challenges in the development and application of nitrile compounds. It anticipates that process optimization and the development of new additives will enable the synthesis of multifunctional nitrile compounds with low viscosity, high purity, and enhanced interface stability, and discusses their potential applications in high-voltage electrolytes, particularly for lithium cobalt oxide battery systems.

Key words: lithium-ion batteries, electrolyte, nitrile compound, solid-electrolyte interphase film

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