Lithium bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)phosphate Li[O₂P(OCH₂CF₃)₂]: A high voltage additive for LNMO/graphite cells

The fluorinated phosphate lithium bis (2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) phosphate (LiBFEP) has been investigated as a film-forming additive employed to passivate the cathode and hinder continuous oxidation of the electrolyte. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear sweep voltammetry coupled with online electrochemical mass spectrometry (LSV-OEMS) on a conductive carbon electrode (i.e., a C65/PVDF composite) showed that LiBFEP decreases electrolyte oxidation (CV and LSV) and LiPF₆ decomposition at high potentials. Incorporation of LiBFEP (0.1 and 0.5 wt%) into LiPF₆ in ethylene carbonate (EC)/ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) (3:7 wt) results in improved coulombic efficiency and capacity retention for LNMO/graphite cells. Ex-situ surface analysis of the electrodes suggests that incorporation of LiBFEP results in the formation of a cathode electrolyte interface (CEI) and modification of the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) on the anode. The formation of the CEI mitigates electrolyte oxidation and prevents the decomposition of LiPF₆, which in turn prevents HF-induced manganese dissolution from the cathode and destabilization of the SEI. The passivation of the cathode and stabilization of the SEI is responsible for the increased coulombic efficiency and capacity retention.