Reversible Self-discharge of LFP/Graphite and NMC811/Graphite Cells Originating from Redox Shuttle Generation
Sebastian Buechele, E. R. Logan, Thomas Boulanger, Saad Azam, Ahmed Eldesoky, Wentao Song, Michel B. Johnson, Michael Metzger
Abstract
Unwanted parasitic reactions in lithium-ion cells lead to self-discharge and inefficiency, especially at high temperatures. To understand the nature of those reactions this study investigates the open circuit storage losses of LFP/graphite and NMC811/graphite pouch cells with common alkyl carbonate electrolytes. The cells perform a storage test at 40 °C with a 500 h open circuit period after formation at temperatures between 40 °C and 70 °C. Cells formed at elevated temperature showed a high reversible storage loss that could be assigned to a redox shuttle generated in the electrolyte during formation. A voltage hold after formation can reduce the shuttle-induced self-discharge as indicated by significantly lower reversible storage losses, the absence of shuttling currents in cyclic voltammetry and improved metrics in ultra-high precision cycling. The addition of two weight percent vinylene carbonate can prevent redox shuttle generation and leads to almost zero reversible self-discharge.