Optimising 3-phenyl-1,4,2-dioxazol-5-one as an electrolyte additive for Lithium-Ion cells

Abstract

An effective method to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is to switch to renewables for energy generation and transportation. Since current sources of renewable energy, such as wind and solar, are intermittent, it is essential to find ways to store energy to match supply and demand.
If vehicles are to be powered by renewable energy, they need portable energy storage. Currently, lithium-ion batteries are one of the most viable solutions for energy storage. Extending the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries is the goal of this research, carried out with Dr. David Hall of Dr. Jeff Dahn‘s research group at Dalhousie University in late 2017. We developed and tested a chemical compound, 3-phenyl-1,4,2-dioxazol-5-one (PDO), which greatly improves the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries. One percent of this by weight in a cell‘s electrolyte, along with two percent ethylene sulfate, will extend a battery‘s lifespan more than three-fold over those containing conventional vinylene carbonate-containing electrolyte.