Taming Chemical Reactions in Batteries by Noncovalent Interactions

Battery performance is governed not only by electrochemical reactions but also by parasitic and unavoidable chemical reactions, such as the hydrolysis of LiPF6 by trace H2O. Rather than conventional H2O/HF scavenging, we suggest a strategy for taming these reactions via noncovalent interactions. Hydrogen bonds are designed to deactivate H2O molecules, thereby suppressing LiPF6 hydrolysis during battery operation. This example illustrates the precise control of the reactivity of chemical reactions by noncovalent interactions. “Competition” based on the strength of different noncovalent interactions is the key in this strategy. This concept is generalized to control other key chemical reactions and equilibria in batteries, including salt dissolution and solvation structure change, enabling control of ion transport and interface chemistry. This paradigm opens a new way to manipulate chemical reactions without breaking covalent bonds, not only in batteries but also in broad applications such as electrocatalysis and chemical reactions.