As two stable hydrogen isotopes, protium and deuterium show magnified isotope effects in physicochemical properties due to the significantly varied atomic masses. In this work, aqueous electrolytes based on heavy water (D2 O) and light water (H2 O) were prepared to reveal the electrochemical isotope effects between the hydrogen isotopes. The covalent hydrogen-oxygen bond and intermolecular hydrogen bond in D2 O are much stronger than those in H2 O, making them thermodynamically more stable. Compared with the H2 O-based electrolyte, the D2 O-based electrolyte shows a broader electrochemical window, a higher percentage of coordinated water and a longer lifetime of hydrogen bond. Because of the above electrochemical isotope effects, the D2 O-based electrolyte shows high anodic stability against operation of high-voltage layered oxide cathode materials including LiCoO2 and LiNi0.8 Co0.1 Mn0.1 O2 , which enables long cycle life and favorable rate performance of aqueous Li-ion batteries.
Keywords: Aqueous Electrolyte; Deuterium Oxide; Electrochemical Isotope Effects; Hydrogen Bond; Li-Ion Storage.
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