Electrolytes for improved performance of cells with high-capacity anodes based on micron-scale moderate volume-changing particles

A method of forming a Li-ion battery cell, the method comprising:

• assembling the Li-ion battery cell comprising an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, a separator electrically separating the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, and an electrolyte ionically coupling the anode electrode and the cathode electrode;
• charging and/or discharging the Li-ion battery cell to a state in which the anode electrode is partially or fully expanded;
• and
• curing the Li-ion battery cell at an elevated temperature in a range of around 30° C. to around 100° C., wherein at least part of the curing occurs while the anode electrode is partially or fully expanded,
• wherein:
• the anode electrode has a capacity loading in a range of 2 mAh/cm2 to about 10 mAh/cm2 and comprises anode particles including an active material and having an average particle size in a range of about 0.2 microns to about 40 microns, the active material comprising silicon or an alloy thereof;
• the electrolyte comprises a Li-ion salt composition and an electrolyte solvent composition;
• the electrolyte solvent composition comprises (a) one or more ester compounds, (b) a fluorinated solvent compound, and (c) a cyclic carbonate other than the fluorinated solvent compound;
• each of the one or more ester compounds has a melting point below about −70° C. and a boiling point above +70° C.;
• and
• each of the fluorinated solvent compound and the cyclic carbonate has a melting point above about −60° C.