@article{Liu2026, 
author = {Jiamei Liu and Xiaowei Shi and Bonan Tan and Huandi Zhang and Junpeng Liu and Haixiao Kang and Zhan Gao and Lei Li},
title = {Guidance KPF6- and KFSI-based electrolytes in EC/DEC solvents selection for potassium-based batteries},
year = {2026},
journal = {Nano Research},
volume = {19},
number = {1},
pages = {94908196},
keywords = {potassium-based batteries, electrolytes, solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer, dendrite growth},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/NR.2025.94908196},
doi = {10.26599/NR.2025.94908196},
abstract = {Electrolytes play a key role in determining the electrochemical performance, safety, and lifespan of potassium-based batteries, making their selection and optimization a critical area of research. This study systematically investigates the effects of two major potassium-based battery electrolytes, potassium hexafluorophosphate (KPF6) and potassium difluorosulfonimide (KFSI) in ethylene carbonate/diethyl carbonate (EC/DEC) solvents, on battery performance, solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) stability, aluminum (Al) current collector corrosion behavior, electrochemical stability window, and dendrite growth issue. Experimental results reveal that KFSI electrolyte significantly outperforms KPF6 in terms of cycling stability, rate capability, and Coulombic efficiency (CE), primarily due to the formation of a high-quality SEI on electrode surface. Through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) analyses, we construct the SEI structure for both electrolytes, and find that the SEI formed by KFSI is more uniform and stable. Additionally, KPF6 exhibits weaker corrosivity towards the Al current collector compared to KFSI due to the formation of an AlF3 layer with higher oxidation stability on Al surface. Furthermore, in-situ optical microscopy observations indicate that the dendrite growth in KFSI electrolyte is more uniform, preventing the aggregates. These findings provide essential experimental evidence and theoretical support for optimizing the electrolyte in potassium-based batteries.}
}