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The urgent electrolyte sustainability challenges for electric vehicle batteries

Author

Listed:
  • Tobias F. Burton

    (VISTEC)

  • Juan Luis Gómez Urbano

    (Institute for Technical Chemistry and Environmental Chemistry and Center for Energy and Environmental Chemistry Jena (CEEC Jena) Philosophenweg 7a)

  • Yachao Zhu

    (Southwest Jiaotong University)

  • Andrea Balducci

    (Institute for Technical Chemistry and Environmental Chemistry and Center for Energy and Environmental Chemistry Jena (CEEC Jena) Philosophenweg 7a)

  • Olivier Fontaine

    (Université de Montréal)

Abstract

At a time when society is moving towards electric transport to replace gasoline-powered cars, lithium-ion battery electrolytes are a black box in terms of their production and the raw materials they are made from. This article puts into perspective the urgent need to find alternatives to conventional electrolytes based on fluorinated salts in carbonate solvents.

Suggested Citation

  • Tobias F. Burton & Juan Luis Gómez Urbano & Yachao Zhu & Andrea Balducci & Olivier Fontaine, 2025. "The urgent electrolyte sustainability challenges for electric vehicle batteries," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-60711-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60711-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. John D. Graham & John A. Rupp & Eva Brungard, 2021. "Lithium in the Green Energy Transition: The Quest for Both Sustainability and Security," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-23, October.
    3. Plante, Michael, 2025. "Investing in the batteries and vehicles of the future: A view through the stock market," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    4. Richard Schmuch & Ralf Wagner & Gerhard Hörpel & Tobias Placke & Martin Winter, 2018. "Performance and cost of materials for lithium-based rechargeable automotive batteries," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 3(4), pages 267-278, April.
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