Enhanced Performance of Sulfone-Based Electrolytes at Lithium Ion Battery Electrodes, Including the LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 High Voltage Cathode

In an extension of our previous studies of sulfone-containing electrolytes for lithium batteries, we report tests of sulfone–carbonate, and all-sulfone, electrolytes in a variety of anode and cathode half cells. While the all-sulfone electrolyte appears promising at the graphite anode in early cycles, it fails at the high voltage cathode and will not be further tested. On the other hand a sulfone–carbonate mixed solvent performs very well (97% capacity retention after 100 cycles with 99–100% coulomb efficiency) at the LiNi0.5M1.5O4 (LNMO) cathode, and also at the Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) anode, both of which are being developed for high power applications.