Materials for Battery Electrolytes and Methods for Use

Abstract

Described herein are materials for use in electrolytes that provide a number of desirable characteristics when implemented within batteries, such as high stability during battery cycling up to high temperatures high voltages, high discharge capacity, high coulombic efficiency, and excellent retention of discharge capacity and coulombic efficiency over several cycles of charging and discharging. In some embodiments, a high voltage electrolyte includes a base electrolyte and a set of additive compounds, which impart these desirable performance characteristics.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A battery comprising:
 an anode comprising an anode active material characterized by a first specific capacity;   a cathode comprising a cathode active material characterized by a second specific capacity, wherein the first specific capacity and the second specific capacity are matched such that the battery is characterized by a rated charge voltage greater than about 4.2 V; and   an electrolyte comprising a lithium salt, a non-aqueous solvent, and a compound represented by the formula (I):   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           wherein R 1 , R 2 , and R 3  are independently selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted C 1 -C 20  alkyl groups, substituted and unsubstituted C 1 -C 20  alkenyl groups, substituted and unsubstituted C 1 -C 20  alkynyl groups, and substituted and unsubstituted C 5 -C 20  aryl groups; 
           X is nitrogen or oxygen; and 
           Y is selected from the group consisting of hydride groups, halo groups, hydroxy groups, thio groups, alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups, aryl groups, iminyl groups, alkoxy groups, alkenoxy groups, alkynoxy groups, aryloxy groups, carboxy groups, alkylcarbonyloxy groups, alkenylcarbonyloxy groups, alkynylcarbonyloxy groups, arylcarbonyloxy groups, alkylthio groups, alkenylthio groups, alkynylthio groups, arylthio groups, cyano groups, N-substituted amino groups, alkylcarbonylamino groups, N-substituted alkylcarbonylamino groups, alkenylcarbonylamino groups, N-substituted alkenyl carbonylamino groups, alkynylcarbonyl amino groups, N-substituted alkynylcarbonylamino groups, arylcarbonylamino groups, and N-substituted arylcarbonylamino groups, boron-containing groups, aluminum-containing groups, silicon-containing groups, phosphorus-containing groups, and sulfur-containing groups. 
         
       
     
     
         2 . The battery of  claim 1  wherein the cathode active material is characterized by a specific capacity of at least about 10 mAh/(g of active material) upon discharge at a current of about 0.01 C over a voltage range of about 4.9 V to about 4.2 V. 
     
     
         3 . The battery of  claim 1  wherein the cathode active material is characterized by a specific capacity of at least about 40 mAh/(g of active material) upon discharge at a current of about 0.01 C over a voltage range of about 4.9 V to about 4.2 V. 
     
     
         4 . The battery of  claim 1  wherein the cathode active material is characterized by a specific capacity of at least about 100 mAh/(g of active material) upon discharge at a current of about 0.01 C over a voltage range of about 4.9 V to about 4.2 V. 
     
     
         5 . The battery of  claim 1  wherein the battery has a coulombic efficiency at 100 cycles from an initial cycle of at least about 90%. 
     
     
         6 . The battery of  claim 1  wherein the battery has a coulombic efficiency at 100 cycles from an initial cycle of at least about 90% when the battery is operated in an environment at a temperature of greater than about 50 degrees C. 
     
     
         7 . The battery of  claim 1  wherein the battery has a coulombic efficiency at 100 cycles from an initial cycle of at least about 90% when the battery is at a temperature of about 50 degrees C. 
     
     
         8 . The battery of  claim 1  wherein the cathode active material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of nickel, manganese, and cobalt. 
     
     
         9 . The battery of  claim 1  wherein the cathode active material comprises a spinel structure lithium metal oxide, a layered structure lithium metal oxide, or a lithium-rich layered structured lithium metal oxide. 
     
     
         10 . The battery of  claim 1  wherein the cathode active material comprises a lithium metal phosphate. 
     
     
         11 . An electrolyte solution for a high voltage battery, comprising:
 a lithium salt;   a non-aqueous solvent; and   a compound represented by the formula (I):   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           wherein R 1 , R 2 , and R 3  are independently selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted C 1 -C 20  alkyl groups, substituted and unsubstituted C 1 -C 20  alkenyl groups, substituted and unsubstituted C 1 -C 20  alkynyl groups, and substituted and unsubstituted C 5 -C 20  aryl groups; 
           X is nitrogen or oxygen; and 
           Y is selected from the group consisting of hydride groups, halo groups, hydroxy groups, thio groups, alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups, aryl groups, iminyl groups, alkoxy groups, alkenoxy groups, alkynoxy groups, aryloxy groups, carboxy groups, alkylcarbonyloxy groups, alkenylcarbonyloxy groups, alkynylcarbonyloxy groups, arylcarbonyloxy groups, alkylthio groups, alkenylthio groups, alkynylthio groups, arylthio groups, cyano groups, N-substituted amino groups, alkylcarbonylamino groups, N-substituted alkylcarbonylamino groups, alkenylcarbonylamino groups, N-substituted alkenyl carbonylamino groups, alkynylcarbonyl amino groups, N-substituted alkynylcarbonylamino groups, arylcarbonylamino groups, and N-substituted arylcarbonylamino groups, boron-containing groups, aluminum-containing groups, silicon-containing groups, phosphorus-containing groups, and sulfur-containing groups; 
         
         wherein the electrolyte solution is characterized by electrochemical stability in a high voltage battery at voltages above about 4.2 V. 
       
     
     
         12 . The electrolyte solution of  claim 1  wherein the solution is further characterized by electrochemical stability when the battery is operated in an environment at a temperature at about 50 degrees C. 
     
     
         13 . The electrolyte solution of  claim 1  wherein the solution is further characterized by electrochemical stability when the battery is at a temperature at about 50 degrees C. 
     
     
         14 . The electrolyte solution of  claim 1  wherein the solution is characterized by electrochemical stability in a high voltage battery at voltages above about 4.5 V. 
     
     
         15 . The electrolyte solution of  claim 1  wherein the solution is characterized by electrochemical stability in a high voltage battery at voltages above about 5.0 V. 
     
     
         16 . A method of making a high voltage battery, comprising:
 providing an electrolyte solution comprising:
 a lithium salt, 
 a non-aqueous solvent, and 
 a compound represented by the formula (I): 
   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           wherein R 1 , R 2 , and R 3  are independently selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted C 1 -C 20  alkyl groups, substituted and unsubstituted C 1 -C 20  alkenyl groups, substituted and unsubstituted C 1 -C 20  alkynyl groups, and substituted and unsubstituted C 5 -C 20  aryl groups; 
           X is nitrogen or oxygen; and 
           Y is selected from the group consisting of hydride groups, halo groups, hydroxy groups, thio groups, alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups, aryl groups, iminyl groups, alkoxy groups, alkenoxy groups, alkynoxy groups, aryloxy groups, carboxy groups, alkylcarbonyloxy groups, alkenylcarbonyloxy groups, alkynylcarbonyloxy groups, arylcarbonyloxy groups, alkylthio groups, alkenylthio groups, alkynylthio groups, arylthio groups, cyano groups, N-substituted amino groups, alkylcarbonylamino groups, N-substituted alkylcarbonylamino groups, alkenylcarbonylamino groups, N-substituted alkenyl carbonylamino groups, alkynylcarbonyl amino groups, N-substituted alkynylcarbonylamino groups, arylcarbonylamino groups, and N-substituted arylcarbonylamino groups, boron-containing groups, aluminum-containing groups, silicon-containing groups, phosphorus-containing groups, and sulfur-containing groups; 
         
         providing an anode comprising an anode active material characterized by a first specific capacity; 
         providing a cathode comprising a cathode active material characterized by a second specific capacity, wherein the first specific capacity and the second specific capacity are matched such that the battery is characterized by a rated charge voltage greater than about 4.2 V; 
         assembling the anode and cathode and optionally a separator into an electrochemical cell; 
         adding the electrolyte solution to the cell; and 
         sealing the cell to form the high voltage battery. 
       
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the cathode active material is characterized by a specific capacity of at least about 10 mAh/(g of active material) upon discharge at a current of about 0.01 C over a voltage range of about 4.9 V to about 4.2 V. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the cathode active material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of nickel, manganese, and cobalt. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the cathode active material comprises a spinel structure lithium metal oxide, a layered structure lithium metal oxide, or a lithium-rich layered structured lithium metal oxide. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the cathode active material comprises a lithium metal phosphate.