Boron esters as tunable anion carriers for non-aqueous batteries electrochemistry.

Abstract

Compounds like LiF, Li(2)O, and Li(2)O(2) have considerable importance in batteries; the first two are ubiquitous in the protective SEI at the negative electrode, or the result of conversion reactions with fluorides and oxides. The latter, Li(2)O(2,) forms from oxygen reduction in the much vaunted Li/air batteries. Mastering their solubility in Li-based electrolytes is viewed as essential for further progress in battery safety, lifetime, or capacity. Aprotic solvents cannot provide the H-bonds necessary to their dissolution, and simple practical solutions have yet to materialize. Here we disclose a novel and large family of boron esters of general formula Y-C((CH(2)O)(Z(1)O)(Z(2)O))B whose Lewis acidity stems from geometrical constraint and can be tuned via electron affinity either by Y = CH(3) --> Y = NO(2) or Z(1,2) = CH(2) --> Z(1,2) = CO so as to partially or fully dissolve the above compounds both in battery solvent EC/DMC and in DMF. The extreme simplicity of synthesis and variability of these boron-based anion carriers, where the exchange rate is fast, are not only a valuable addition to coordination science but also a step forward to improve present battery systems.

• Authors: Devaraj Shanmukaraj, Sylvie Grugeon, Grégory Gachot, Stéphane Laruelle, David Mathiron, Jean-Marie Tarascon, Michel Armand
• Journal: Journal of the American Chemical Society (J Am Chem Soc) Vol. 132 Issue 9 Pg. 3055-62 (Mar 10 2010) ISSN: 1520-5126 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20155905 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anions
• Boron Compounds
• Esters

Topics

• Anions (chemistry)
• Boron Compounds (chemical synthesis, chemistry)
• Electric Power Supplies
• Electrochemistry
• Esters (chemical synthesis, chemistry)