Surface complexes, lithiated carbons

The complexity of SEI formation is topped off with reactions of the electrolyte with contaminants and additives. Because of different reaction rates of all reactive components with lithium, which yield surface films of different quality, additives can be used to modify the surface films to highly conductive lithium films, preventing the components of the electrolyte from further decomposition. There are many successful examples of this approach in the open and patent literature, both for lithium anodes and also for lithiated carbon electrodes. 

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