摘要
Freezing and crystallization of commercial ethylene carbonate-based binary electrolytes,leading to irreversible damage to lithium-ion batteries(LIBs),remain a significant challenge for the survival of energy storage devices at extremely low temperatures(<−40°C).Herein,a decimal solvent-based high-entropy electrolyte is developed with an unprecedented low freezing point of−130°C to significantly extend the service temperature range of LIBs,far superior to−30°C of the commercial counterpart.Distinguished from conventional electrolytes,this molecularly disordered solvent mixture greatly suppresses the freezing crystallization of electrolytes,providing good protection for LIBs from possible mechanical damage at extremely low temperatures.Benefiting from this,our high-entropy electrolyte exhibits extraordinarily high ionic conductivity of 0.62 mS·cm−1 at−60°C,several orders of magnitude higher than the frozen commercial electrolytes.Impressively,LIBs utilizing decimal electrolytes can be charged and discharged even at an ultra-low temperature of−60°C,maintaining high capacity retention(∼80%at−40°C)as well as remarkable rate capability.This study provides design strategies of low-temperature electrolytes to extend the service temperature range of LIBs,creating a new avenue for improving the survival and operation of various energy storage systems under extreme environmental conditions.
基金
This study was supported by the National Research Foundation,Prime Minister’s Office,Singapore under the Nanomaterials for Energy and Water Management CREATE Programme,and the Energy Innovation Research Programme(EIRP)administered by the Energy Market Authority(no.NRF2015EWT-EIRP002-008).