Molecular Engineering Chemical Pre-lithiation Reagent with Low Redox Potential for Graphite Anode Enables High Coulombic Efficiency.

Graphite (Gr) is a low-cost and high-stability anode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, Gr anode exhibits an obstinate drawback of low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE), owing to the active lithium loss for the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer. Herein, a straightforward and effective chemical pre-lithiation strategy is proposed to compensate for the lithium loss. A molecular engineering phenanthrene-based lithium-arene complex (Ph-based LAC) reagent is designed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The engineering Ph-based reagent enhances the stability of the π-electron system and the electron-donating capacity, resulting in a reduced redox potential to facilitate lithium transfer. The electrochemical distinct of the Ph-based reagent is illustrated, the prelithiation process in a low Li-insertion platform, and the lithiation degree is controllable with the dipping time (ICE = 102%, 3 min). Notably, a denser and homogeneous SEI layer has pre-formed to enhance the Li transport and interface stability. Moreover, the lithium-ion full batteries assemble with LiFePO and NCM811 cathode, which exhibits high ICE (96.5% and 90.3%) and energy density (310 and 333 Wh kg). These findings present a facile and controllable pre-lithiation strategy to compensate for the lithium of LIBs, providing new valuable insights into the design and optimization of battery manufacture.