Ethylene carbonate (EC)

  • Product Name: Ethylene Carbonate
  • Short name: EC
  • Appearance: Colourless liquid
  • Purity: 99.9%
  • CAS No: 96-49-1
  • HS Code: 2932999099
  • Molecular Formula: C3H4O3
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Ethylene carbonate (EC) is a white crystalline solid at room temperature, but when the temperature exceeds 35°C, it will turn into a colorless and transparent liquid. Its melting point ranges from 34°C to 37°C, and its boiling point is 246.7°C. EC has a relatively high dielectric constant, low resistance to ion migration, and strong hygroscopicity. It can dissolve in 40°C hot water, chloroform, ethanol, and ethyl acetate. In addition, EC ethylene carbonate has excellent solubility for a variety of substances. It can not only effectively dissolve acidic gases such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, but also dissolve certain organic sulfur. At the same time, it can also dissolve polymers such as polyacrylonitrile and polyvinyl chloride very well. For this reason, EC has been widely used in many fields such as battery electrolytes, ester intermediates, fertilizers, fibers, pharmaceuticals, and surfactants.

ItemEthylene carbonate
Molecular formulaC3H4O3
Assay>99.9%
Moisture<100ppm
AcidN/A
Molecular weight88.06
Melting point35-38 degree C(lit.)
Boiling point1.321 g/mL at 25 degrees C(lit.)
Density1.321 g/mL at 25 degree C(lit.)
Flash point320 degree F
FormCrystalline low melting solid
ColorColorless

Mechanism Action of Ethylene Carbonate EC in Electrolytes

  • ‌Promote the dissociation of lithium salts‌. ‌Ethylene carbonate solvent has an extremely high dielectric constant and can promote the dissociation of various lithium salts (such as LiPF6), thereby improving the conductivity of the electrolyte and the performance of the battery.
  • ‌‌Form a stable SEI film‌. ‌During the charge and discharge process, the reduction product of ethylene carbonate helps to form a benign SEI film. SEI film can prevent the electrolyte from further decomposing. Meanwhile, it can allow lithium ions to pass through, improve the stability of the electrode interface, reduce the internal impedance of the battery, improve the battery’s cycle performance and safety, and extend the battery’s service life.
  • ‌‌Inhibit the stripping of graphite negative electrodes‌. ‌Electrolytes containing ethylene carbonate can effectively inhibit the stripping of graphite negative electrodes, further extending the battery’s cycle life.
  • ‌‌Improve battery cycle performance and voltage polarization phenomenon‌. ‌Ethylene carbonate and Li+ form a tightly ordered Li+-EC solvation configuration through solvation, which has higher stability, thereby improving the battery’s cycle performance and voltage polarization phenomenon.
  • ‌Improve low-temperature performance. ‌EC solvent has a moderate melting point and viscosity, which helps to improve the performance of the battery in a low-temperature environment.
  • ‌Improve electrochemical stability. ‌EC ethylene carbonate has high electrochemical stability and can remain stable over a wide voltage range, making it suitable for high-voltage lithium battery systems.
  • Ethylene carbonate also has the effect of improving electrolyte stability, inhibiting electrolyte decomposition and oxidation reactions, and further enhancing the safety and stability of the battery.

Main Applications of Ethylene Carbonate

In the lithium battery industry, ethylene carbonate is an important component of the electrolyte. Due to its high dielectric constant, low viscosity and good solubility, it is widely used as an electrolyte solvent for lithium-ion batteries. During the battery charging and discharging process, ethylene carbonate can provide a stable ion conduction environment, which helps to improve the battery charging and discharging efficiency and cycle life.

In the manufacture of coatings and inks, ethylene carbonate EC also plays a key role. It can be used as a fast-drying solvent for paints and inks. Due to its low toxicity and fast drying properties, it can effectively improve the quality of the coating and shorten the drying time.

In the field of chemical synthesis, ethylene carbonate can also be used as a raw material for the synthesis of a variety of compounds, such as the synthesis of polyvinyl carbonate-based degradable plastics.

Used as an organic solvent and organic intermediate. Ethylene carbonate is an excellent organic solvent that can dissolve a variety of polymers, such as polyacrylonitrile and polyvinyl chloride. It can also be used as an organic intermediate to replace ethylene oxide for dioxygenation reactions and produce dimethyl carbonate by transesterification.

‌Pharmaceutical industry‌. In the pharmaceutical industry, ethylene carbonate is used to produce a variety of drugs, such as anticancer drugs, antibiotics and antiviral drugs.

‌Other applications‌. It can also be used as a raw material for the synthesis of furazolidone, water glass slurry, fiber finishing agent, etc. In addition, ethylene carbonate is also used as an active intermediate for the production of lubricating oils and greases, as a plastic foaming agent, a stabilizer for synthetic lubricating oils, a spinning liquid for textiles, a solvent for removing acidic gases, and an additive for concrete.

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