Abstract:  As the energy demand for lithium-ion batteries increase, there is a need for new electrolytes that can enable the use of next generation cathode and anode materials to fulfill that demand. Work done at the MERF targets promising electrolyte candidates for process development and scale-up for the battery community.

Currently, we are investigating the synthesis of fluorinated polyether solvents with applications towards lithium-metal batteries. These solvents have been shown to enable high cyclability and Coulombic efficiencies in Li metal batteries. However, high costs hinder the development of these electrolytes beyond the bench.  New methods for their cost-effective development, including the use of continuous-flow synthesis, will be discussed.