Chemical hazard assessment toward safer electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries

作者：Branden Schwaebe, Haoyang He, Christopher Glaubensklee, Oladele A. Ogunseitan, Julie M. Schoenung · 发表于：Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1002/ieam.4963 · 被引用次数：12 · 研究领域：Advanced Battery Technologies Research、Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies、Recycling and Waste Management Techniques

Abstract Commercialization of rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries has revolutionized the design of portable electronic devices and is facilitating the current transition to electric vehicles. The technological specifications of Li-ion batteries continue to evolve through the introduction of various high-risk liquid electrolyte chemicals, yet critical evaluation of the physical, environmental, and human health hazards of these substances is lacking. Using the GreenScreen for Safer Chemicals approach, we conducted a chemical hazard assessment (CHA) of 103 electrolyte chemicals categorized into seven chemical groups: salts, carbonates, esters, ethers, sulfoxides–sulfites–sulfones, overcharge protection additives, and flame-retardant additives. To minimize data gaps, we focused on six toxicity and hazard data sources, including three empirical and three nonempirical predictive data sources. Furthermore, we investigated the structural similarities among selected electrolyte chemicals using the ChemMine tool and the simplified molecular input line entry system inputs from PubChem to evaluate whether chemicals with similar structures exhibit similar toxicity. The results demonstrate that salts, overcharge protection additives, and flame-retardant additives contain the most toxic components in the electrolyte solutions. Furthermore, carbonates, esters, and ethers account for most flammability hazards in Li-ion batteries. This study supports the complementary use of quantitati...