An effective solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer is the key to the stable operation of lithium-ion batteries by minimizing the loss of lithium and decomposition of the electrolyte. Sulfur-containing additives can facilitate the formation of SEI layers and the effect of two sulfur-containing additives was investigated in this work. The growth of the SEI layer on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite substrate during a cyclic voltammetry scan was monitored in situ using an atomic force microscope for imaging and an electrochemical workstation for controlling the potential of the electrode simultaneously. Both the ethylene sulfite (ES) additive and prop-1-ene-1,3-sultone (PES) additive can promote the formation of an SEI layer at higher potentials. The ES additive started to form an SEI at a higher voltage than the PES additive and the surface of the SEI layer appeared to be smoother. The effect of the additives was further evaluated in coin cells and the ES additive was found to enable superior stability of the cell in comparison to the PES additive and the neat electrolyte. Examination of the multi-cycled graphite electrode showed that the SEI layer formed with the ES additive was thicker and denser with low resistance for Li-ion conduction, which explains the high performance of the coin cell.

中文翻译：

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通过原位原子力显微镜和异位表征评估含硫添加剂对固体电解质中间相形成的影响

有效的固体电解质中间相（SEI）层是通过最大程度地减少锂的损失和电解质的分解来稳定锂离子电池运行的关键。含硫添加剂可以促进SEI层的形成，并且在这项工作中研究了两种含硫添加剂的效果。在循环伏安法扫描过程中，对SEI层在高度取向的热解石墨基板上的生长进行了原位监测使用原子力显微镜进行成像，并使用电化学工作站同时控制电极的电势。亚硫酸亚乙酯（ES）添加剂和丙-1-烯-1,3-磺内酯（PES）添加剂均可在较高电势下促进SEI层的形成。ES添加剂开始在比PES添加剂更高的电压下形成SEI，并且SEI层的表面显得更光滑。在纽扣电池中进一步评估了添加剂的效果，发现与PES添加剂和纯净的电解质相比，ES添加剂可使电池具有更高的稳定性。对多循环石墨电极的检查表明，由ES添加剂形成的SEI层更厚，更致密，并且对锂离子传导的电阻较低，这说明了纽扣电池的高性能。