The first time a lithium-ion battery is charged, a portion of its electrolyte solidifies and coats the negative electrode. Called the solid-electrolyte interphase, this coating prevents further loss of electrolyte during later discharge-recharge cycles. However, it also consumes a portion of the battery’s lithium, reducing the capacity of today’s commercial batteries by around 5–10%. With next-generation electrode materials, the loss is even higher — up to 30%.
