Lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide is used in the preparation of chiral imidazolium salt through an anion metathesis of the corresponding triflate organic electrolyte-based lithium batteries. It finds application in the preparation of rare-earth Lewis acid catalysts. It is also useful in primary and secondary lithium cells using organic liquid electrolytes and polymer batteries.
Properties and Applications
Lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulphonyl)imide (LiTFSI) is a hydrophilic organic salt with many uses in electric and electronic systems. Its bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide anion, often called bistriflimide, is helpful in coordinating weakly with cations. LiTFSI's other important property is its extremely high solubility in water: 21 molal or ≈6 kg/L of solution. LiTFSI is safer than the formerly used salt, lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6). To improve the cells' ability to transport electrical charges, researchers are doped with a combination of LiTFSI and a semiconductor called Spiro-OMeTAD1; however, this process is extremely slow. Taylor and his fellow researchers solved the problem by bubbling carbon dioxide into a solution of spiro-OMeTAD and LiTFSI while irradiating the mixture with ultraviolet light. They then cast a film from the solution onto the perovskite light absorber. The process can be completed in ≈1 minute, compared with the older, hours-long doping procedure.