Controlling Li Dendritic Growth in Graphite Anodes by Potassium Electrolyte Additives for Li-Ion Batteries

Fast charging promotes Li dendrite formation and its growth on graphite anodes, which affects cell performance in Li-ion batteries (LIBs). This work reports the formation of a robust SEI layer by introducing a KPF₆ inorganic additive into the electrolyte. An optimal concentration of 0.001 M KPF₆ effectively inhibits the growth of Li dendrites at 2C charging rates, compared with a commercial electrolyte. Electrolytes containing a KPF₆ additive are shown here to deliver dual effects to mitigate the growth of dendrites. A thin LiF-rich SEI layer is formed on graphite, which blocks the electron leakage pathways. Additionally, K⁺ resides at defect sites (such as particle boundaries) due to its faster diffusion rate and blocks the incoming Li⁺ and restricts the growth of Li dendrites. The electrolyte with optimum concentration of KPF₆, i.e., 0.001 M, effectively directs Li⁺ transport through the thin, durable, and low resistance LiF-rich SEI layer. This has implications for fast charging through optimization of the electrode/electrolyte interphase by controlling additive concentrations.