Insights into the efficient roles of solid electrolyte interphase derived from vinylene carbonate additive in rechargeable batteries

Formation of unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layers lacking of thermal stability in non-aqueous electrolytes of rechargeable batteries is the main bottleneck for their long-life cycling, especially at elevated temperatures. Inclusion of a small dose of functional electrolyte additives into the batteries' electrolyte can be highly beneficial to surmount this issue. Of these additives, vinylene carbonate (VC) has drawn particular attention thanks to its high ability to build protective layers at anodes showing good integrity and outstanding thermal stability. In addition to its primary roles in present-day lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), VC additive has also been examined in other types of rechargeable batteries, including sodium-ion, lithium-sulfur, and potassium-ion batteries. To the best of our knowledge, no effort has been made to provide a survey on VC usage in rechargeable batteries. Herein, we aim to review the recent advances on the application of VC in electrolytes of rechargeable batteries, especially post-LIBs whose future developments rely hugely on finding excellent electrolyte formulations.