Chemical Formation of a Solid Electrolyte Interface on the Carbon Electrode of a Li‐Ion Cell

Carbon black electrodes were prepared as a model system in which to study the irreversible capacity observed in Li‐ion battery negative electrodes during the first cycle in an ethylene carbonate‐diethyl carbonate electrolyte. A chemical treatment of electrodes with n ‐butyl lithium prior to cell construction was found to reduce the charge normally associated with the formation of a solid electrolyte interface. The effects of treatment time on the coulometric insertion profile, irreversible capacity, and electrode morphology were examined.