TY - JOUR AU - Ridwan A Ahmed AU - Rohith Srinivaas Mohanakrishnan AU - Jingyang Wang AU - Krishna Prasad Koirala AU - Qian Zhao AU - Yanbao Fu AU - Ying Chen AU - Justin C Rastinejad AU - Tianyu Li AU - Lirong Zhong AU - Mateusz J Zuba AU - Carrie Siu AU - Ozgenur Kahvecioglu AU - Raphaële J Clément AU - Bryan D McCloskey AU - Vincent S Battaglia AU - Kristin A Persson AU - Chongmin Wang AU - Wu Xu AB -

Lithium (Li)‐excess transition metal oxide materials which crystallize in the cation‐disordered rock salt (DRX) structure are promising cathodes for realizing low‐cost, high‐energy‐density Li batteries. However, the state‐of‐the‐art electrolytes for Li‐ion batteries cannot meet the high‐voltage stability requirement for high‐voltage DRX cathodes, thus new electrolytes are urgently demanded. It has been reported that the solvation structures and properties of the electrolytes critically influence the performance and stability of the batteries. In this study, the structure–property relationships of various electrolytes with different solvent‐to‐diluent ratios are systematically investigated through a combination of theoretical calculations and experimental tests and analyses. This approach guides the development of electrolytes with unique solvation structures and characteristics, exhibiting high voltage stability, and enhancing the formation of stable electrode/electrolyte interphases. These electrolytes enable the realization of Li||Li1.094Mn0.676Ti0.228O2 (LMTO) DRX cells with improved performance compared to the conventional electrolyte. Specifically, Li||LMTO cells with the optimized advanced controlled‐solvation electrolyte deliver higher specific capacity and longer cycle life compared to cells with the conventional electrolyte. Additionally, the investigation into the structure–property relationship provides a foundational basis for designing advanced electrolytes, which are crucial for the stable cycling of emerging high‐voltage cathodes.

BT - Small DA - 05/2025 DO - 10.1002/smll.202501600 IS - 18 N2 -

Lithium (Li)‐excess transition metal oxide materials which crystallize in the cation‐disordered rock salt (DRX) structure are promising cathodes for realizing low‐cost, high‐energy‐density Li batteries. However, the state‐of‐the‐art electrolytes for Li‐ion batteries cannot meet the high‐voltage stability requirement for high‐voltage DRX cathodes, thus new electrolytes are urgently demanded. It has been reported that the solvation structures and properties of the electrolytes critically influence the performance and stability of the batteries. In this study, the structure–property relationships of various electrolytes with different solvent‐to‐diluent ratios are systematically investigated through a combination of theoretical calculations and experimental tests and analyses. This approach guides the development of electrolytes with unique solvation structures and characteristics, exhibiting high voltage stability, and enhancing the formation of stable electrode/electrolyte interphases. These electrolytes enable the realization of Li||Li1.094Mn0.676Ti0.228O2 (LMTO) DRX cells with improved performance compared to the conventional electrolyte. Specifically, Li||LMTO cells with the optimized advanced controlled‐solvation electrolyte deliver higher specific capacity and longer cycle life compared to cells with the conventional electrolyte. Additionally, the investigation into the structure–property relationship provides a foundational basis for designing advanced electrolytes, which are crucial for the stable cycling of emerging high‐voltage cathodes.

PB - Wiley PY - 2025 T2 - Small TI - Designing Advanced Electrolytes for High‐Voltage High‐Capacity Disordered Rocksalt Cathodes UR - https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202501600 VL - 21 SN - 1613-6810, 1613-6829 ER -