Lithium nitrate regulated sulfone electrolytes for lithium metal batteries

The electrolytes in lithium metal batteries have to be compatible with both lithium metal anodes and high voltage cathodes, and can be regulated by manipulating the solvation structure. Herein, to enhance the electrolyte stability, lithium nitrate $\left(LiN{O}_3\right)$ and 1,1,2,2-tetrafuoroethyl-2',2',2'-trifuoroethyl(HFE) are introduced into the high-concentration sulfolane electrolyte to suppress Li dendrite growth and achieve a high Coulombic efficiency of /({/gt}/)99 % for both the Li anode and $LiN{i}_{0.8}M{n}_{0.1}C{o}_{0.1}{O}_2$ (NMC811) cathodes. Molecular dynamics simulations show that $N{O}_3^{-}$ participates in the solvation sheath of lithium ions enabling more bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide anion $\left(TFS{I}^{-}\right)$ to coordinate with $L{i}^{+}$ ions. Therefore, a robust $Li{N}_x{O}_y$-LiF-rich solid electrolyte interface (SEI) is formed on the Li surface, suppressing Li dendrite growth. The $LiN{O}_3$-containing sulfolane electrolyte can also support the highly aggressive $LiN{i}_{0.8}M{n}_{0.1}C{o}_{0.1}{O}_2$ (NMC811) cathode, delivering a discharge capacity of 190.4 mAh g${}^{-1}$ at 0.5 C for 200 cycles with a capacity retention rate of 99.5 %. (© 2020 Wiley‐VCH GmbH)