Deep eutectic electrolytes for fast charging and wide temperature lithium metal batteries

Napat Lertthanaphol; Myat T. San; Md Anwar Hossain; Sarttrawut Tulaphol; Thana Maihom; Ming Wang; Jacek B. Jasinski; Jaroslaw Syzdek; Yang Tse Cheng; Vance Jaeger; Noppadon Sathitsuksanoh

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2025.238884

Deep eutectic electrolytes for fast charging and wide temperature lithium metal batteries

Napat Lertthanaphol
, Myat T. San
, Md Anwar Hossain
, Sarttrawut Tulaphol
, Thana Maihom
, Ming Wang
, Jacek B. Jasinski
, Jaroslaw Syzdek
, Yang Tse Cheng
, Vance Jaeger
, Noppadon Sathitsuksanoh

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lithium metal batteries offer high energy density. However, it requires electrolytes that remain stable under fast-charging and wide temperature fluctuation. Here, we develop a sulfonyl-based deep eutectic electrolyte (DEE) that is nonflammable, thermally stable, and highly conductive (4.1 mS cm⁻¹at 30 °C). The tailored solvation structure of this DEE reduced Li⁺–anion binding and lowered desolvation barriers, as confirmed by spectroscopy, molecular dynamics, and density functional theory. The DEE formed a robust LiF/SO_x-rich solid electrolyte interphase that enabled long-term cycling. The Li/LFP cells delivered 92 % capacity retention after 1200 cycles at 2C and 30 °C. Moreover, Li/LMFP cells retained 75 % after 500 cycles at 2C and 30 °C. The electrolyte maintained stability under fast charging and repeated thermal transitions between 4 and 70 °C, highlighting its adaptability to demanding operating conditions. These findings establish sulfonyle-based DEEs as a design platform for safe, high-rate lithium metal batteries in grid storage and electric vehicles.

Original language	English
Article number	238884
Number of pages	9
Journal	Journal of Power Sources
Volume	667
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2025.238884
State	Published - Mar 1 2026

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.

Funding

The work was supported by the U.S. Department of Defense. The authors thank Ms. Kelly Lutz, Ms. Dana Swan, and Arkema Inc. (USA) for polyvinylidene fluoride samples and stimulating discussions. This work was performed in part at the Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research at the University of Louisville, which belongs to the National Science Foundation NNCI KY Manufacturing and Nano Integration Node, supported by ECCS1542174. The authors would like to thank Dr. Howard Fried for his valuable comments and suggestions on the manuscript.

Funders	Funder number
Arkema Inc.
U.S. Department of Defense
University of Kentucky, University of Louisville
National Science Foundation Arctic Social Science Program	ECCS1542174

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

Deep eutectic electrolyte
Fast ion transport
Lithium metal batteries
Solid-electrolyte interphase
Wide temperature operation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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10.1016/j.jpowsour.2025.238884

Cite this

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title = "Deep eutectic electrolytes for fast charging and wide temperature lithium metal batteries",

abstract = "Lithium metal batteries offer high energy density. However, it requires electrolytes that remain stable under fast-charging and wide temperature fluctuation. Here, we develop a sulfonyl-based deep eutectic electrolyte (DEE) that is nonflammable, thermally stable, and highly conductive (4.1 mS cm−1at 30 °C). The tailored solvation structure of this DEE reduced Li+–anion binding and lowered desolvation barriers, as confirmed by spectroscopy, molecular dynamics, and density functional theory. The DEE formed a robust LiF/SOx-rich solid electrolyte interphase that enabled long-term cycling. The Li/LFP cells delivered 92 \% capacity retention after 1200 cycles at 2C and 30 °C. Moreover, Li/LMFP cells retained 75 \% after 500 cycles at 2C and 30 °C. The electrolyte maintained stability under fast charging and repeated thermal transitions between 4 and 70 °C, highlighting its adaptability to demanding operating conditions. These findings establish sulfonyle-based DEEs as a design platform for safe, high-rate lithium metal batteries in grid storage and electric vehicles.",

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AU - Lertthanaphol, Napat

AU - San, Myat T.

AU - Hossain, Md Anwar

AU - Tulaphol, Sarttrawut

AU - Maihom, Thana

AU - Wang, Ming

AU - Jasinski, Jacek B.

AU - Syzdek, Jaroslaw

AU - Cheng, Yang Tse

AU - Jaeger, Vance

AU - Sathitsuksanoh, Noppadon

PY - 2026/3/1

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N2 - Lithium metal batteries offer high energy density. However, it requires electrolytes that remain stable under fast-charging and wide temperature fluctuation. Here, we develop a sulfonyl-based deep eutectic electrolyte (DEE) that is nonflammable, thermally stable, and highly conductive (4.1 mS cm−1at 30 °C). The tailored solvation structure of this DEE reduced Li+–anion binding and lowered desolvation barriers, as confirmed by spectroscopy, molecular dynamics, and density functional theory. The DEE formed a robust LiF/SOx-rich solid electrolyte interphase that enabled long-term cycling. The Li/LFP cells delivered 92 % capacity retention after 1200 cycles at 2C and 30 °C. Moreover, Li/LMFP cells retained 75 % after 500 cycles at 2C and 30 °C. The electrolyte maintained stability under fast charging and repeated thermal transitions between 4 and 70 °C, highlighting its adaptability to demanding operating conditions. These findings establish sulfonyle-based DEEs as a design platform for safe, high-rate lithium metal batteries in grid storage and electric vehicles.

AB - Lithium metal batteries offer high energy density. However, it requires electrolytes that remain stable under fast-charging and wide temperature fluctuation. Here, we develop a sulfonyl-based deep eutectic electrolyte (DEE) that is nonflammable, thermally stable, and highly conductive (4.1 mS cm−1at 30 °C). The tailored solvation structure of this DEE reduced Li+–anion binding and lowered desolvation barriers, as confirmed by spectroscopy, molecular dynamics, and density functional theory. The DEE formed a robust LiF/SOx-rich solid electrolyte interphase that enabled long-term cycling. The Li/LFP cells delivered 92 % capacity retention after 1200 cycles at 2C and 30 °C. Moreover, Li/LMFP cells retained 75 % after 500 cycles at 2C and 30 °C. The electrolyte maintained stability under fast charging and repeated thermal transitions between 4 and 70 °C, highlighting its adaptability to demanding operating conditions. These findings establish sulfonyle-based DEEs as a design platform for safe, high-rate lithium metal batteries in grid storage and electric vehicles.

KW - Deep eutectic electrolyte

KW - Fast ion transport

KW - Lithium metal batteries

KW - Solid-electrolyte interphase

KW - Wide temperature operation

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Deep eutectic electrolytes for fast charging and wide temperature lithium metal batteries

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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