High-Entropy Solvation Configurations toward Practical Fast-Charging and Safe Lithium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

Severe performance decay is witnessed for fast-charging lithium-ion batteries due to tremendous kinetic barriers. Herein, high-entropy solvation configurations are achieved to diminish such kinetic limitations by inducing multiple salts into the electrolyte. Theoretical calculations combined with experimental characterizations confirm the enhanced entropy of the electrolyte, rendering the participation of several anionic groups and reducing the solvation strength between Li⁺ and solvent/anion species. Concurrently, inorganic-rich interphases are further identified via preferential oxidation/reduction of diverse multianions clusters, thus reducing the interphases impedance. The graphite/LiNi_0.5Mn_0.2Co_0.3O₂ full cell maintains 95.4% capacity retention over 650 cycles at 1 C and delivers a capacity of 82.3 mAh g^–1 (45.2 mAh g^–1 for routine batteries) at 5 C. Such kinetic performance ensures the safety without Li plating at fast charging, increasing the thermal failure onset temperature from 68.6 °C to 167.7 °C under deeply aging conditions. This electrolyte offers an opportunity to achieve safe and long-term fast-charging lithium-ion batteries.