Revealing the lithium solid electrolyte interphase in liquid electrolytes via in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Cell Press Blue 2026 Open access

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Authors: D Wang, Yu Katayama, Bastian von Holtum, Asya Svirinovsky-Arbeli, Miles Smith, K. Inoue, Julia Hestenes, Louis Ah, Haldrian Iriawan, Nicole Ceribelli, Jason K. Phong, Livia Giordano
+4 more Lauren E. Marbella, Simon Wiemers-Meyer, Martin Winter, Yang Shao‐Horn
DOI: 10.1016/j.cpblue.2025.100002
Cited by: 6
References: 110

Abstract

Unlocking lithium metal batteries requires a robust solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) capable of sustaining high Coulombic efficiency (CE). Here, we develop in situ Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to directly probe potential- and cycling-dependent formation of an organic SEI in carbonate electrolytes containing ethylene carbonate (EC) and ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) and systematically correlate interfacial chemistry with CE. In 1.2 M LiPF 6 EC, an organic-dominated SEI comprising lithium ethylene dicarbonate (LEDC) forms starting at pre-plating potentials, yielding the highest CE (∼90%). In contrast, 1.0 M LiPF 6 EMC produces primarily soluble lithium ethyl carbonate (LEC) and develops a thick, LiF- and Li 2 O-rich, spatially heterogeneous SEI with poor reversibility (

Fields of Study & Subjects

Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies Advancements in Battery Materials Thermal Expansion and Ionic Conductivity

Publication details

Journal / source
Cell Press Blue
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Volume
1
Issue
1
Pages
100002–100002
Publication date
19 January 2026
Language
EN