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.

1 .- 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . An electrolyte solution comprising:
 a salt;   a solvent; and   a compound represented by the formula (I):   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  are independently selected from the group consisting of substituted C 1 -C 20  alkyl groups, unsubstituted C 1 -C 20  alkyl groups, substituted C 1 -C 20  alkenyl groups, unsubstituted C 1 -C 20  alkenyl groups, substituted C 1 -C 20  alkynyl groups, unsubstituted C 1 -C 20  alkynyl groups, substituted C 5 -C 20  aryl groups, and unsubstituted C 5 -C 20  aryl groups. 
         
       
     
     
         32 . The electrolyte solution of  claim 31  wherein only one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  comprises a substituted C 1 -C 20  alkenyl group or unsubstituted C 1 -C 20  alkenyl group. 
     
     
         33 . The electrolyte solution of  claim 31  wherein at least two of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  comprise a substituted C 1 -C 20  alkenyl group or unsubstituted C 1 -C 20  alkenyl group. 
     
     
         34 . The electrolyte solution of  claim 31  wherein at least three of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  comprise a substituted C 1 -C 20  alkenyl group or unsubstituted C 1 -C 20  alkenyl group. 
     
     
         35 . The electrolyte solution of  claim 31  wherein only one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  comprises a substituted C 1 -C 20  alkynl group or unsubstituted C 1 -C 20  alkynl group. 
     
     
         36 . The electrolyte solution of  claim 31  wherein at least two of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  comprise a substituted C 1 -C 20  alkynl group or unsubstituted C 1 -C 20  alkynl group. 
     
     
         37 . The electrolyte solution of  claim 31  wherein at least three of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  comprise a substituted C 1 -C 20  alkynl group or unsubstituted C 1 -C 20  alkynl group. 
     
     
         38 . The electrolyte solution of  claim 31  wherein only one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  comprises a vinyl group. 
     
     
         39 . The electrolyte solution of  claim 31  wherein at least two of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  comprise a vinyl group. 
     
     
         40 . The electrolyte solution of  claim 31  wherein at least three of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  comprise a vinyl group. 
     
     
         41 . The electrolyte solution of  claim 31  wherein the compound represented by the formula (I) is selected from the group consisting of Trivinylmethylsilane, Tetravinylsilane, 4-(Trimethylsilyl)-3-butyn-2-one, and 1,3-Bis[(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl]benzene. 
     
     
         42 . The electrolyte solution of  claim 31  wherein the compound represented by the formula (I) is selected from the group consisting of Trivinylmethylsilane and Tetravinylsilane. 
     
     
         43 . 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 potential as measured relative to a Li/Li+ anode greater than 4.2 V; and   a solvent; and   an electrolyte solution comprising a lithium salt, a non-aqueous solvent, and a compound represented by the formula (I):   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  are independently selected from the group consisting of substituted C 1 -C 20  alkyl groups, unsubstituted C 1 -C 20  alkyl groups, substituted C 1 -C 20  alkenyl groups, unsubstituted C 1 -C 20  alkenyl groups, substituted C 1 -C 20  alkynyl groups, unsubstituted C 1 -C 20  alkynyl groups, substituted C 5 -C 20  aryl groups, and unsubstituted C 5 -C 20  aryl groups. 
         
       
     
     
         44 . The battery of  claim 43  wherein only one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  comprises a vinyl group. 
     
     
         45 . The battery of  claim 43  wherein at least two of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  comprise a vinyl group. 
     
     
         46 . The battery of  claim 43  wherein at least three of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  comprise a vinyl group. 
     
     
         47 . The battery of  claim 43  wherein only one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  comprises a substituted C 1 -C 20  alkynl group. 
     
     
         48 . The battery of  claim 43  wherein at least two of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  comprise a substituted C 1 -C 20  alkynl group 
     
     
         49 . The battery of  claim 43  wherein at least three of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  comprise a substituted C 1 -C 20  alkynl group. 
     
     
         50 . The electrolyte solution of  claim 31  wherein the electrolyte solution is characterized by electrochemical stability in a high voltage battery at voltages above 4.2 V. 
     
     
         51 . The electrolyte solution of  claim 31  wherein the solution is further characterized by electrochemical stability when the battery is operated in an environment at a temperature at or above 45 degrees C. 
     
     
         52 . The electrolyte solution of  claim 31  wherein the solution is further characterized by electrochemical stability when the battery is at a temperature at or above 45 degrees C.