The electrochemical role of the SEI in Li-ion batteries and design principles for electrode surface modification

ion in the transition state during the solvation/desolvation process, resulting in lower activation energy. The H-terminated, LiF-layered, and OH-terminated graphite have flat surfaces, providing limited space for solvation, resulting in half solvation rather than full solvation. The solvation/desolvation process on the graphite modified with a LiF cluster or CHO group is very weakly coupled with the charge transfer, and thus the anodic transfer coefficient approaches unity (symmetry factor of 0).