Cation solvation and the Helmholtz layer of Li-ion battery electrodes

An illustration of a battery with the elements involved represented within the shape of the battery

This paper*, published in ACS Applied Energy Materials, describes a new theory for the solvation of Li-ion battery electrolytes in contact with an electrode, which are the species that can react to form the solid electrolyte interphase.

The authors found that, under certain circumstances, the solvation probabilities of Li cations in contact with the electrode remain equal to their bulk values. This is significant: starting from bulk solvation environments of Li cations are a good place to understand these electrolytes at charged interfaces.

*'Theory of cation solvation in the Helmholtz layer of Li-ion battery electrolytes'.