Studies on lithium-ion battery electrolytes and three component Strecker reaction

The first four chapters of this work describes the collaborative effort between the University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Pasadena, CA) focused on developing electrolyte systems to meet the targeted improvements desired by the United States space program. Within this work effort was made to explain the effects of electrolyte modification to the overall performance of the individual electrodes as well as the cell performance on a whole through employment of electrochemical analysis (impedance spectroscopy, Tafel polarization, DC micro-polarization, cyclic voltammetry, and conductivity) and electrical measurements (charge-discharge characteristics, low-operating temperature characterization, high temperature storage performance, and rate capabilities). Chapter 1 provides a brief discussion of the background and development of lithium ion batteries. Further description of the electrolyte systems of such devices is also provided. Developments made to increase the operational temperature of Li-ion batteries using fluorinated esters are described in chapter 2 of this document. Of the examined fluorinated esters, 2, 2, 2-trifluoroethyl butyrate showed the most promised for low-temperature performance. Flame retardant additives were added to electrolyte formulations to improve the safety characteristics of the Li-ion cells, and these results are discussed in chapter 3. Within this chapter, a correlation between flame retardant additive structure and electrochemical stability (and thus, cell performance) is elaborated upon. Chapter 4 is the final chapter discussing Li-ion electrolyte development and describes the work performed to extend the cycle life and high temperature resiliency of cells using advanced lithium salt electrolytes, lithium bis(oxolato)borate and lithium tetrafluoroborate.;The final chapter of this dissertation details a modification to the well known Strecker reaction developed at the University of Southern California employing a solid poly(4-vinylpyridine)-SO2 complex as a mild solid acid catalyst for efficient synthesis of alpha-aminonitriles in high yield and purity.