Publication Date

Fall 11-18-2025

Document Type

Student Project

First Advisor

Tao Li

Degree Name

B.S. (Bachelor of Science)

Department

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Abstract

With continued progress in portable technology, energy storage has become an important factor to improve upon as batteries are found in a variety of everyday devices. Lithium-ion batteries are particularly common, although current technology features shortcomings in thermal stability, efficiency, and cost. Such shortcomings are related to current electrolytes in such technologies. The following experiment aims, for noteworthy alternative electrolytes, to analyze both macroscopic measurements related to transport properties and spectroscopy measurements that give insight into samples’ solvation structures. Such data are then used to identify the most promising electrolytes of the ones tested. Solutes tested include the promising imide-based solutes of LiFSI and LiTFSI. Solvents tested include H2O, along with the simple organic solvents of MeOH and ACN. Using the data outlined, H2O has been identified and affirmed to be a particularly stable solvent for electrolytes, while LiTFSI has been identified as a particularly promising solute. Although LiFSI in H2O features the highest absolute ionic conductivity measurements, LiTFSI in H2O has been identified as the electrolyte with overall the most optimal measurements, and such an electrolyte at high concentrations may show additional promise if tested in batteries.

Download

Share

COinS