title: Lithium batteries: Improving solid-electrolyte interphases via underpotential solvent electropolymerization.
abstract: Understanding the mechanism of formation of solid-electrolyte interphases (SEI) is key to the prospects of lithium metal batteries (LMB). Here, we investigate via cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy and chronoamperometry the role of kinetics in controlling the properties of the SEI generated from the reduction of propylene carbonate (PC, a typical solvent in LMB). Our observations are consistent with the operation of a radical chain PC electropolymerization into polymer units whose complexity increases at lower initiation rates. As proof-of-concept, we show that slow initiation rates via one-electron PC reduction at underpotentials consistently yields compact, electronically insulating, Li+-conducting, PC-impermeable SEI films.
authors.affiliation: Linde Center for Global Environmental Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
authors.forename: Laleh Majari
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Kasmaee
authors.affiliation: Linde Center for Global Environmental Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
authors.forename: Asghar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aryanfar
authors.affiliation: Linde Center for Global Environmental Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
authors.forename: Zarui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chikneyan
authors.affiliation: Linde Center for Global Environmental Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: Linde Center for Global Environmental Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
authors.forename: Agustín J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Colussi
keywords: Dendrite inhibition; Electropolymerization; Lithium metal batteries; Organic carbonates; Solid electrolyte interphase