Interfaces and Interphases

Electrolytes are key components of any electrochemical device. They are married to 3-D interphases which originate from the high reactivity of the electrode and the intrinsic instability of electrolyte components. In most cases, electrolyte formulations and their ad hoc interfacial chemistries dictate the fate of each battery chemistry and govern its performance and safety.

The R&D interest scope ranges from the dissolving power for electrolyte salts on the conductivity, electrochemical and thermal stability, wettability, flammability and vapour pressure, to the essential film-forming abilities.

The Helmholtz Institute Münster focuses on the development of novel and advancement of existing (multi-)functional electrolytes for lithium-based battery applications – from the customized synthesis of novel electrolyte components to interface electrochemistry and processes (figure 1).

Research at a Glance:

• Tailored syntheses of innovative and ultrapure electrolyte components: conducting salts, organic solvents and co-solvents as well as (multi-)functional additives
• Development of structure-property-performance relationships for understanding and elucidation of main operation and failure mechanisms
• Comprehensive and systematic characterization on electrolyte and battery cell level
• Profound fundamental understanding of relevant structural and compositional characteristics, (electro-)chemical reactions as well as thermodynamic and kinetic behaviour
• Practical strategies to enhance interphase properties toward advanced overall performance and safety of lithium-based battery cell chemistries

High-Throughput Screening System

The in Münster well-established High Throughput Screening (HTS) System enables fast, systematic, and all-automatic formulation of liquid electrolytes, cell assembly in two and three electrode setup, as well as preselected physicochemical and electrochemical measurements on an electrolyte and cell level. Additionally, HTS serves as a filtration unit towards an accelerated identification of affordable, electrochemically and thermally outperforming lead electrolyte candidates for a targeted application in a given cell chemistry.

The entire value chain is governed by the laboratory information management system (LIMS). Combined with artificial intelligence (AI) based analysis of generated HTS-data it may serve for prediction of vital electrolyte properties and suggest new combinations of advanced electrolyte formulations with enhanced safety (figure 2).

Selected Publications:

Advanced Energy Materials 2024, 2402152, DOI: 10.1002/aenm.202402152

Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2024, DOI: 10.1039/D3TA06249J

Small Structures 2024, 5, 2300425, DOI: 10.1002/sstr.202300425

Faraday Discussions 2024, DOI: 10.1039/D4FD00012A

ACS Applied Materials Interfaces 2023, 15, 53526, DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c12797

Journal of Power Sources 2023, 570, 233051, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2023.233051

Journal of Power Sources 2023, 557, 232570, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2022.232570

Journal of Material Chemistry A 2023, 11, 13483, DOI: 10.1039/D3TA01217D

Energy Materials 2023, 3, 3000020, DOI: 10.20517/energymater.2023.07

Scientific Data 2023, 10, 43, DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-01936-3

Advanced Energy Materials 2023, 2300827, DOI: 10.1002/aenm.202300827

Batteries & Supercaps 2023, e202300045, DOI: 10.1002/batt.202300045

Batteries 2023, 9, 4, DOI: 10.3390/batteries9010004

Journal of Power Sources 2022, 549, 232118, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2022.232118

Advanced Energy Materials 2022, 12, 2102785, DOI: 10.1002/aenm.202102785

Chemistry Methods 2022, 2, e202200008, DOI: 10.1002/cmtd.202200008

Advanced Materials Interfaces 2022, 9, 2101898, DOI: 10.1002/admi.202101898

Batteries & Supercaps 2022, 5, e202200228, DOI: 10.1002/batt.202200228

Advanced Materials Interfaces 2022, 9, 2102078, DOI: 10.1002/admi.202102078

Digital Discovery 2022, 1, 440, DOI: 10.1039/D2DD00027J

Advanced Materials Interfaces 2022, 9, 2102538, DOI: 10.1002/admi.202102538

Advanced Energy Materials 2021, Early View, DOI: 10.1002/aenm.202102678

Projects:

• BIG-MAP von BATTERY 2030+
• SuSaNa
• LILLINT II
• HighSpin
• FRL Europe
• HIPOBAT
• SAFELOOP
• SAGELi

BIG-MAP by BATTERY 2030+