Trimethyl Phosphate: A Promising Lithium-Ion Battery Component with Critical Health Hazards

General Description

Trimethyl phosphate is the trimethyl ester of phosphoric acid. It is a colourless, nonvolatile liquid. It has some specialized uses in the production of other compounds.

Applications in Lithium-Ion Batteries

Trimethyl phosphate is emerging as a vital component in the development of next-generation lithium-ion batteries, particularly in conjunction with lithium-rich layered oxides. These materials are notable for their high energy density and lower cost, placing them at the forefront of battery technology innovations. However, the commercial viability of these materials is hindered by their cycling stability issues. The degradation in performance often results from the interaction between carbonate-based electrolytes and oxygen radicals released from the lithium-rich layered oxides. To counteract this, trimethyl phosphate-based electrolytes have been engineered to enhance stability and efficiency. ¹

Uses

Trimethyl phosphate is a mild methylating agent, useful for dimethylation of anilines and related heterocyclic compounds. The method is complementary to the traditional Eschweiler-Clarke reaction in cases where formaldehyde engages in side reactions.

Trimethyl phosphate is used as a solvent for aromatic halogenations and nitrations as required for the preparation of pesticides and pharmaceuticals.

Health Hazards

With an LD50 of 2g/kg for rats, Trimethyl phosphate is expected to have low acute toxicity.

Reference

1.Liu Z, Liu Z, Li K, Zhao X, Chen M, Miao H, Xia L. Exploring Trimethyl-Phosphate-Based Electrolytes without a Carbonyl Group for Li-Rich Layered Oxide Positive Electrodes in Lithium-Ion Batteries. J Phys Chem Lett. 2022 Dec 8; 13(48): 11307-11316.

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