Efficient and Facile Electrochemical Process for the Production of High-Quality Lithium Hexafluorophosphate Electrolyte

The global consumption for lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF₆) has increased dramatically with the rapid growth of Li-ion batteries (LIBs) for large-scale electric energy storage applications. Conventional LiPF₆ production has a high cost and high energy consumption due to complicated separation and purification processes. Here, based on the electrode materials of LiMn₂O₄ and polyaniline (PANI), we propose a facile electrochemical extraction/release process for LiPF₆ electrolyte production. This new technology consists of two independent steps: a PF₆^-- and Li⁺-extracting step using a PANI/Li_xMn₂O₄ cell in aqueous solution (an ion extraction step) and a LiPF₆ electrolyte production step from the charged LiMn₂O₄/PANI⁺PF₆^- cell in an organic electrolyte (an ion release step). This new process can effectively avoid the contamination of HF residue in the final product, providing a great possibility to create a facile, energy-efficient, and low-cost LiPF₆ electrolyte production.