High‐energy lithium metal batteries are promising for space, polar, deep‐sea, and other extreme environments, but their operation is constrained by temperature‐sensitive ion transport, Li + solvation, and interfacial chemistry. A solvation‐equilibrium‐locked electrolyte (SELE) is reported by combining dimethyl sulfite (DMS), a low‐freezing weakly solvating solvent, with Pyr 13 DFOB (1‐methyl‐1‐propylpyrrolidinium difluoro(oxalato)borate) as an ionic‐liquid co‐solvent. Cooperative ion–dipole and weak C–H⋯O interactions between DMS and Pyr 13 + regulate the free‐solvent reservoir, while TFSI − (bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide) and DFOB − enrich the primary Li + coordination shell. Variable‐temperature 7 Li NMR, Raman, and molecular dynamics simulations show that solvent‐separated ion pairs, contact ion pairs, and aggregates remain nearly invariant from −60°C to 60°C, unlike the strongly temperature‐responsive Pyr 13 DFOB‐free electrolyte. This locked anion‐rich solvation structure reduces solvent coordination around Li + , mitigates solvent‐derived interfacial decomposition and gas evolution, and promotes LiF‐ and borate‐rich interphases on Li metal and NMC811. Consequently, Li||NMC811 cells deliver discharge capacity at −85°C and operate up to 120°C, while pouch cells remain functional after cooling to −122.9°C. A 6.6 Ah Li||Ni90 pouch cell further achieves 565 Wh kg −1 under lean‐electrolyte conditions, establishing solvation‐equilibrium locking as a molecular design principle for lithium metal batteries operating over a broad temperature range.
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Dong et al. (2026) studied this question.
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