ADDITIVES FOR ELECTROLYTES IN Li-ION BATTERIES

A method of improving the performance and safety of a Li-ion battery, comprising using a nitrile-based organic compound in association with the electrolyte of the battery, wherein the compound has a general formula II outlined below

• wherein:
• X is C or N;
• L is present or absent and is a linker comprising one or more of alkyl, alkene and alkyne groups;
• Ri each independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkene, alkyne, aryl and alkylaryl, alkoxy, thioalkoxy, OH, SH, NH2, a halogen atom, a halogeno alkyl, a halogeno alkoxy, a halogeno thioalkoxy, a cyano alkyl, a cyano alkene, a cyano alkyne, CN, NO2, SO2, COOH and acyloxycarbonyl;
• preferably selected from the group consisting of H, alkyloxy, halogen, halogeno alkyl, nitro, and cyano;
• more preferably selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, nitro and cyano;
• m is an integer from 1 to 5, or 1 to 4, or 1 to 3;
• and
• m′ is an integer from 0 to 5, or 0 to 4, or 0 to 3, or 1 to 5, or 1 to 4, or 1 to 3.

A method of improving the performance and safety of a Li-ion battery, comprising using a nitrile-based organic compound in association with the electrolyte of the battery, wherein the compound has a general formula III outlined below

• wherein:
• X is C or N;
• Ri are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkene, alkyne, aryl and alkylaryl, alkoxy, thioalkoxy, OH, SH, NH2, a halogen atom, a halogeno alkyl, a halogeno alkoxy, a halogeno thioalkoxy, a cyano alkyl, a cyano alkene, a cyano alkyne, CN, NO2, SO2, COOH and acyloxycarbonyl;
• preferably Ri are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyloxy, halogen, halogeno alkyl, nitro, and cyano;
• more preferably selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, nitro and cyano;
• and
• m′ is an integer from 0 to 5, or 0 to 4, or 0 to 3, or 1 to 5, or 1 to 4, or 1 to 3.

A method of improving the performance and safety of a Li-ion battery, comprising using a nitrile-based organic compound in association with the electrolyte of the battery, wherein the compound has a general formula IV outlined below

• wherein:
• X is C or N;
• Ri are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkene, alkyne, aryl and alkylaryl, alkoxy, thioalkoxy, OH, SH, NH2, a halogen atom, a balogeno alkyl, a halogeno alkoxy, a halogeno thioalkoxy, a cyano alkyl, a cyano alkene, a cyano alkyne, CN, NO2, SO2, COOH and acyloxycarbonyl;
• preferably selected from the group consisting of H, alkyloxy, halogen, halogeno alkyl, nitro and cyano;
• more preferably selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, nitro and cyano;
• and
• m′ is an integer from 0 to 5, or 0 to 4, or 0 to 3, or 1 to 5, or 1 to 4, or 1 to 3.

A method of improving the performance and safety of a Li-ion battery, comprising using a nitrile-based organic compound in association with the electrolyte of the battery, wherein the compound has a general formula A outlined below

• wherein:
• R1 to R5 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkene, alkyne, aryl and alkylaryl, alkoxy, thioalkoxy, OH, SH, NH2, a halogen atom, a halogeno alkyl, a halogeno alkoxy, a halogeno thioalkoxy, a cyano alkyl, a cyano alkene, a cyano alkyne, CN, NO2, SO2, COOH and acyloxycarbonyl;
• preferably R1 to R5 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyloxy, halogen, halogeno alkyl, nitro and cyano;
• more preferably selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, nitro and cyano.

A method of improving the performance and safety of a Li-ion battery, comprising using a nitrile-based organic compound in association with the electrolyte of the battery, wherein the compound has a general formula B outlined below

• wherein:
• X is C and R3 is H;
• or X is N;
• and
• R1 to R5 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkene, alkyne, aryl and alkylaryl, alkoxy, thioalkoxy, OH, SH, NH2, a halogen atom, a halogeno alkyl, a halogeno alkoxy, a halogeno thioalkoxy, a cyano alkyl, a cyano alkene, a cyano alkyne, CN, NO2, SO2, COOH and acyloxycarbonyl;
• preferably R1 to R5 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyloxy, halogen, halogeno alkyl, nitro and cyano;
• more preferably selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, nitro and cyano.

A method of improving the performance and safety of a Li-ion battery, comprising using a nitrile-based organic compound in association with the electrolyte of the battery, wherein the compound has a general formula V outlined below

• wherein:
• L is present or absent and is a linker comprising one of more of alkyl, alkene and alkyne groups;
• and
• R1 to R3 are each independently alkyl groups;
• preferably C1 to C6 or C1 to C3 alkyl groups;
• more preferably at least one of R1 to R3 is CH3, or each of R1 to R3 is CH3.

A method of improving the performance and safety of a Li-ion battery, comprising using a nitrile-based organic compound in association with the electrolyte of the battery, wherein the compound has a general formula VI outlined below

• wherein:
• n is an integer from 0 to 6, or 0 to 5, or 0 to 4, or 0 to 3, or 0 to 2;
• preferably n is an integer from 0 to 3;
• more preferably n is 0 or 1;
• and
• R1 to R3 are each independently alkyl groups;
• preferably C1 to C6 or C1 to C3 alkyl groups;
• more preferably at least one of R1 to R3 is CH3, or each of R1 to R3 is CH3.

A method of improving the performance and safety of a Li-ion battery, comprising using a nitrile-based organic compound in association with the electrolyte of the battery, wherein the compound has a general formula IX outlined below

• wherein:
• R1 is CN or CH3;
• L1 and L2 are each independently present or absent and are each independently a linker comprising alkyl, alkene and/or alkyne groups;
• and
• Y is Na, K or Li;
• preferably Y is Na.

A method of improving the performance and safety of a Li-ion battery, comprising using a nitrile-based organic compound in association with the electrolyte of the battery, wherein the compound has a general formula X outlined below

• wherein:
• L1 and L2 are each independently present or absent and are each independently a linker comprising one or more of alkyl, alkene and alkyne groups;
• and
• Y is Na, K or Li;
• preferably Y is Na.

A method of improving the performance and safety of a Li-ion battery, comprising using a nitrile-based organic compound in association with the electrolyte of the battery, wherein the compound has a general formula XI outlined below

• wherein:
• n1 and n2 are each independently an integer from 0 to 10, or 0 to 6, or 0 to 3;
• preferably at least one of n1 and n2 is 0, or both n1 and n2 are 0;
• and
• Y is Na, K or Li;
• preferably Y is Na.