Silicon micropillar electrodes of lithiumion batteries used for characterizing electrolyte additives

The <100> crystal-oriented silicon micropillar array platforms were prepared by microfabrication processes for the purpose of electrolyte additive identification. The silicon micropillar array platform was used for the study of fluorinated vinyl carbonate (FEC), vinyl ethylene carbonate (VEC), ethylene sulfite (ES), and vinyl carbonate (VC) electrolyte additives in the LiPF₆ dissolved in a mixture of ethylene carbonate and diethyl carbonate electrolyte system using charge/discharge cycles, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, scanning electron microscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results show that the silicon pillar morphology displays cross-shaped expansion after lithiation/delithiation, the inorganic lithium salt keeps the silicon pillar morphology intact, and the organic lithium salt content promotes a rougher silicon pillar surface. The presence of poly-(VC) components on the surface of FEC and VC electrodes allows the silicon pillar to accommodate greater volume expansion while remaining intact. This work provides a standard, fast, and effective test method for the performance analysis of electrolyte additives and provides guidance for the development of new electrolyte additives.