Secondary Batteries - Lithium Rechargeable Systems | Electrolytes: Additives

The electrolyte solutions of all practical batteries (aqueous, nonaqueous, primary, and secondary) have been elaborated and chosen after long-term research and experience. In parallel, there is a very strong demand and incentive to improve existing systems, due to the ever-increasing demands of modern society for better and more efficient power sources. It is not realistic to expect a revolution in the elaboration of new electrolyte solutions for batteries. The main components in all electrolyte solutions for batteries (solvent, salts, and stabilizers when needed,) usually reflect intelligent and well-explored compromises among performance, energy and power density, safety features, temperature range of operation, environmental factors, price, etc. Therefore, a very effective and practical direction for improving the performance and safety features of batteries is by the use of additives that affect performance (mostly by modifying interfacial properties) without introducing major changes in the electrolyte systems. The use of additives to electrolyte solutions for batteries opens the door for highly innovative and creative R&D work. Typical examples of additives that modify the electrodes' surface chemistry are provided. The article also deals with bulk properties and safety features of electrolyte solutions and discusses the ways to improve them by the use of additives.