Effect of sodium chloride as electrolyte additive on the performance of mesocarbon microbeads electrode

A low cost and environment benign salt of sodium chloride (NaCl) was used as an additive in low temperature electrolyte (Lithium hexafluorophosphate(LiPF₆) / ethylene carbonate(EC) / propylene carbonate(PC) / ethyl methyl carbonate(EMC) (0.14/0.18/0.68, wt.)) to improve the electrochemical performance of mesocarbon microbeads(MCMB) anode. The initial Li extraction capacity of MCMB electrode was 304.8mAh g^-1 in this electrolyte when the content of EC was remarkably reduced for a better conductivity. Whereas, a value of 357.6mAh g^-1 was attained in the presence of NaCl additive. The electrochemical performance of MCMB was largely enhanced in the low temperature electrolyte with NaCl. The effect of NaCl additive on the electrode performance was examined by cyclic voltammetry(CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS), scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic(XPS).