Researchers have discovered that using "small molecule" solvents can help improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries, speed up charging and ensure they work at low temperatures.
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Lithium-ion batteries tend to rely on electrolytes consisting of one or more lithium salts dissolved in an organic solvent.
A team led by Xiulin Fan, a professor at China's Zhejiang University, found that a small-molecule solvent called fluoroacetonitrile improves the way lithium ions move in the electrolyte, resulting in high conductivity that can facilitate faster charging.
They also found that the recorded conductivity remained high at -65°C, a step forward in low-temperature chargeability, the authors said in a paper published in Nature this week.
