CUSTOMCELLS is a Germany-based global developer and producer of electrodes, electrolytes, battery cells and battery modules. They can develop electrolytes for specific applications according to the customer’s needs.
The growing global demand for lithium-ion batteries and the high technical demands for energy, power density and service life are continuously leading to the development of new electrode materials. A prerequisite for compatible use of cell components is the use of tailor-made electrolytes. CUSTOMCELLS draws on know-how developed over many years and numerous patents relating to battery electrolytes and is thus able to provide a suitable electrolyte within a very short time. CUSTOMCELLS also meets individual customer requirements, e.g. the use of battery cells in high and low temperature ranges, by means of customer-specific electrolyte development.
Electrolytes and their tasks
Electrolytes are liquid, solid or gel-like chemical substances that can absorb, transport and release ions. The composition of the electrolyte solution and the anode and cathode material determine the service life, charging time and safety of a battery. The electrolyte is composed of solvents, solvent mixtures, conducting salts and power additives. The main task of the electrolyte is to conduct the ions in lithium-ion batteries. The choice of electrolyte is crucial for the graphitic anode to function properly. In a suitable electrolyte, a capping layer is formed on the anode to isolate electrons, called the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). The top layer protects the anode from corroding electrolyte solutions and makes it permeable to lithium ions. The interphase is responsible for effective ion exchange and battery life.
A standard electrolyte solution consists of the following key components: non-aqueous electrolytes based on the conducting salt lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF9) dissolved in mixtures of ethylene carbonate (EC) with one or more linear carbonates e.g. demethyl, diethyl and ethymethyl carbonates (DMC, DEC, EMC). Typically, the salt concentration is between 0.8 - 1.5 molL-1 to ensure maximum conductivity of the ions. Highly effective electrolyte additives are added in small amounts below 5 Gwe.% to precisely modify the properties of the base electrolyte.
