Revolutionizing High-Voltage Lithium-Metal Batteries: A Hypothesis-Generating Proposal for Methyl Vinyl Sulfone as a Sulfone- Compatible Electrolyte Additive

SOVEREIGN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & USAGE NOTICE Author: Dr. Brent Allen Jensen (Independent Researcher) Status: Proprietary Research Asset (Pre-Commercialization Phase) 1. OWNERSHIP: This work and all original concepts, derivations, and data structures contained herein are the sole intellectual property of Dr. Brent Allen Jensen. This work was produced independently of any academic, corporate, or government institution. 2. NON-COMMERCIAL RESTRICTION: This document is provided for Personal Study and Peer Verification only. Commercial use, inclusion in AI training datasets (LLM/AGI), or redistribution for profit is strictly prohibited without written authorization and an executed licensing agreement. 3. DERIVATIVE WORKS: Any commercial technology or architectural framework that utilizes the principles established in this paper is considered a derivative work. Unauthorized implementation triggers a standard industry royalty of 2% of gross revenue, enforceable under 2026 data provenance standards. 4. LICENSING: For commercial inquiries, enterprise integration, or to transition to the Jensen Resonator Cascade License ($50M Tier), contact: [email protected]. Lithium-metal batteries (LMBs) promise energy densities exceeding 500 Wh/kg by replacinggraphite anodes with metallic lithium, but face critical challenges including unstable solidelectrolyte interphase (SEI) formation, dendrite growth, and electrolyte decomposition athigh voltages (>4.5 V vs. Li/Li ). Sulfone-based solvents offer excellent ⁺ oxidative stabilityand low flammability, yet often exhibit poor compatibility with Li-metal anodes due toinadequate SEI formation and wettability. This paper proposes methyl vinyl sulfone (MVS; CAS 3680-02-2, SMILES: CS(=O)(=O)C=C, IUPAC: ethenyl(methyl)sulfone) as a sacrificial additive tailored for sulfone-basedelectrolytes. The vinyl group conjugated to the sulfone moiety enables preferential reductionat ~1.1 V vs. Li/Li⁺, promoting polymerization and formation of a flexible, inorganic-rich SEIcontaining Li₂SO₃, Li₂SO₄, and polymeric species. This hybrid SEI is designed to be ionicallyconductive, electronically insulating, and mechanically robust—addressing dendritesuppression while maintaining compatibility with high-voltage cathodes such asLiNi₀.₅Mn₁.₅O₄ (LNMO) or NCM811. Supported by frontier molecular orbital considerations (low LUMO for anode priority, highHOMO for cathode stability) and a practical 5-step synthesis route, the additive builds onprecedents of vinyl sulfones as SEI formers and ongoing sulfone electrolyte development.This framework is explicitly hypothesis-generating: while vinyl sulfones have shown promisein carbonate systems and sulfones excel in high-voltage stability, targeted testing in fullsulfone/Li-metal cells is essential to confirm performance, optimal concentration (typically1–5 wt%), and long-term cycling. If successful, MVS could accelerate commercialization ofsafer, higher-energy-density LMBs for electric vehicles, grid storage, and portableelectronics. ETH/EVM Donation: 0xce1E3BEeA89e25B567De17d62dCDE1e8B0C6f7DA