Unveiling the “Longevity Secret” of Lithium Batteries: The Mysteries of VC (Vinylene Carbonate)

Against the backdrop of the deepening implementation of the dual‑carbon goals, lithium‑ion batteries have become deeply embedded across all facets of production and daily life, including new‑energy vehicles, energy‑storage power stations, and consumer electronics. Their core attributes—long cycle life and high stability—are closely linked to the scientifically optimized integration of electrolyte functional additives. Vinylene carbonate (VC), with its intrinsic advantages stemming from its five‑membered ring and unsaturated structure, has emerged as a fine‑chemical material that simultaneously offers practical value in the new‑energy sector and significant potential for advancement in organic synthesis. Breakthroughs in VC‑related research and the expansion of its applications continue to attract intense attention from both industry stakeholders and the scientific community. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of VC’s key characteristics, underlying mechanisms of action, and its multifaceted application benefits, highlighting the substantial impact hidden within this seemingly modest compound.

I. Basic Information on VC

Vinylene carbonate, also known as 1,3-dioxolane-2-one, has the English name Vinylene Carbonate and is commonly abbreviated as VC. Its chemical formula is C₃H₂O₃ Its molecular weight is 86.05, with a melting point range of 19–22°C and a boiling point of 162°C at atmospheric pressure. At 25°C, its density is 1.36 g/cm³. VC remains stable under ambient temperature and pressure conditions; during use and storage, it should be kept away from oxidizing agents, reducing agents, and other substances prone to reaction, and must be rigorously protected from light and stored in a sealed container. Its distinctive five-membered ring and unsaturated double-bond structure confer excellent reactivity and film-forming capability, making it a key additive in lithium‑ion battery electrolytes and laying a solid foundation for enhancing overall battery performance.

II. The VC Market: Supply-Demand Mismatch Sparks a “Super Cycle”

In 2025, global installed capacity for energy storage and power batteries is expected to grow rapidly, ushering in a long-awaited period of robust expansion for the electrolyte industry chain. As a key additive in lithium‑ion batteries, VC experienced a dramatic turnaround that year, moving from an “industry trough” to a “market highlight,” with overall industry sentiment improving markedly.

From January to October 2025, VC prices remained stuck in a historically low range of RMB 48,000–50,000 per ton, with the industry as a whole mired in losses. Plant utilization rates stayed subdued, and supply‑demand dynamics were severely imbalanced. Starting in mid-October, buoyed by multiple favorable factors, VC prices surged rapidly from RMB 54,000 per ton; by early December, market quotes had exceeded RMB 180,000 per ton, marking a gain of over 200%. This marked a fundamental turnaround in the VC market, signaling the industry’s formal entry into a phase of rising profitability.

According to an analysis by Zhongtai Securities, the recent sharp volatility in the VC market stems from a powerful resonance between unexpectedly robust growth in demand for energy storage and a sudden contraction on the supply side. Based on data from ICC Xinlin Lithium Battery, global VC production capacity is projected to reach 69,000 tonnes by 2025, with an industry utilization rate of 86% and capacity utilization within a reasonable range. By 2026, VC market demand is expected to surge, with output potentially climbing to 100,000 tonnes—a year-on-year increase of 45%—underscoring the sector’s sustained growth potential. Meanwhile, the latest industry estimates indicate that global lithium‑ion battery demand will reach 306.5 GWh in 2026, up 33.7% year over year, corresponding to an electrolyte demand of 3.67 million tonnes, which will further boost VC demand and help sustain its price center at a high level of RMB 150,000–200,000 per tonne.

III. VC’s Core Mission: The “Longevity and Safety Guardian” of Lithium Batteries

The most critical application of VC is as a film‑forming additive in lithium‑ion battery electrolytes, widely regarded in the industry as the “longevity key” for lithium batteries. During charge–discharge cycling, VC preferentially undergoes decomposition on the surface of the negative electrode, forming a dense, stable, and highly ionically conductive solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer. This SEI layer serves as an efficient protective barrier at the electrode–electrolyte interface: it effectively suppresses further electrolyte decomposition, thereby mitigating risks such as internal gas generation and capacity fade; at the same time, by establishing stable interfacial transport pathways, it ensures rapid, reversible lithium‑ion shuttling. Leveraging the synergistic effects of this interfacial protection, VC simultaneously enhances the battery’s initial coulombic efficiency, cycle life, and safety performance. Moreover, with continuous advancements in purity, VC products free of polymerization inhibitors have seen their purity rise from early levels of 99.9% to 99.99%, and even approaching 100%, further bolstering the long‑cycle life and high reliability of lithium batteries.

VC exhibits exceptional versatility in lithium‑ion battery electrolyte systems, seamlessly compatible with a wide range of mainstream battery chemistries, including lithium iron phosphate, ternary lithium, lithium cobalt oxide, and lithium nickel manganese oxide. As one of the indispensable key additives in today’s lithium‑ion battery value chain, its application value has been extensively validated and widely recognized by the industry.

(1) Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery System

VC, as an indispensable key additive in the electrolyte of commercial lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, plays a significant role in enhancing the battery’s overall electrochemical performance. Studies by Hung Chun Wu and colleagues on 18650‑type LFP//MCMB battery systems have confirmed that… ^[1] The introduction of a VC additive promotes the preferential formation of a dense and stable SEI layer on the negative electrode surface, which not only effectively suppresses the continuous decomposition of the electrolyte but also inhibits the deposition of iron ions at the negative electrode. As a result, the battery’s high‑temperature cycling stability and capacity retention are significantly enhanced, ensuring long‑term, reliable operation of lithium‑iron‑phosphate batteries.

(II) Ternary Battery System

R. Petibon et al. ^[2] The impact of varying VC addition levels on the performance of NCM111//C batteries was investigated in depth. The results indicate that when the VC content is 1% or 2%, nearly all of the added VC is consumed during the formation stage, effectively enhancing the battery’s overall electrochemical performance. However, when the VC content is increased to 4% or 6%, only about 2% of the VC is consumed during formation, and excess VC leads to a rise in battery impedance, thereby degrading performance. Consequently, an appropriate VC addition level (1%–2%) represents the optimal choice for achieving performance optimization in ternary‑based battery systems.

(3) Lithium Cobalt Oxide Battery System

N. N. Sinha et al. ^[3] Using a high-precision coulometric analysis method, the influence of vinyl carbonate (VC) on the high‑temperature storage performance of LCO batteries was systematically investigated. By continuously monitoring key parameters—such as charge–discharge capacity, voltage evolution, and open‑circuit potential—during storage at 40°C and 60°C, the results demonstrate that VC effectively suppresses side reactions like electrolyte oxidation during high‑temperature storage and cycling, and significantly mitigates voltage decay during storage and charge‑displacement phenomena during cycling. Consequently, the stability and reliability of the battery under elevated temperature conditions are markedly enhanced.

Daiko Takamatsu and others ^[4] Using X-ray fluorescence absorption spectroscopy, we conducted an in-depth investigation into the effect of vinyl carbonate (VC) as an electrolyte additive on the surface electronic structure of LCO electrodes under charge–discharge conditions. Our results show that the addition of VC to the electrolyte effectively suppresses the reduction of cobalt ions at the LCO electrode surface, thereby preventing irreversible structural changes of cobalt ions during cycling. This leads to improved capacity retention over cycles, mitigates the increase in cycling impedance, and extends the battery’s service life.

(4) Nickel–Manganese Lithium Battery System

In the LNMO battery system, VC itself exhibits poor electrochemical stability and readily decomposes to generate acidic species, which in turn degrade the stability of the cathode–electrolyte interface and compromise the overall battery performance. To effectively mitigate this issue, Seulki Chae and colleagues… ^[5] An innovative approach employs VC and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES), among other substances, to pre‑modify the graphite anode. Studies show that this pretreatment strategy can form a robust protective layer on the anode surface, effectively suppressing the deposition of transition metals during high‑temperature storage and substantially enhancing both the high‑temperature storage performance and cycle stability of LNMO batteries.

IV. VC Beyond Batteries: Functional Materials Across Multiple Fields

In addition to serving as a key additive in lithium‑ion battery electrolytes, VC, with its unique cyclic carbonate structure and highly reactive double bond, demonstrates broad application potential across multiple fields, successfully achieving a breakthrough in “multi‑use” value and expanding the boundaries of its industrial applications.

On the one hand, VC can be widely used in the preparation of medical organic polymer materials, the modification and immobilization of enzymes, and as an intermediate in organic synthesis. ^[6] It plays a crucial role in the biomedical field, providing material support for technological advancements in related areas. Meanwhile, as a versatile synthetic building block in organic synthesis, it has attracted widespread attention in the synthetic chemistry community in recent years due to its rich reactivity, gradually emerging as an important coupling component. Since Nishii and Miura first reported in 2009 that VC could serve as an “acetylenol surrogate” in coupling reactions, its applications as an “acetylene surrogate,” a “C1 synthons,” an acylmethylating agent, and other functionalizing reagents have been progressively developed, further expanding its utility in organic synthesis. ^[7] 。

Conclusion: Small Materials, Great Potential

From core additives for lithium‑ion batteries to critical raw materials in biomedicine, synthetic chemistry, and other fields, VC has demonstrated the industry’s value of “small materials, big impact.” As the new‑energy and high‑end manufacturing sectors continue to upgrade, this fine‑chemical material—characterized by both technological barriers and rigid market demand—will unlock further value across an expanding array of applications, injecting fresh momentum into high‑quality industrial development and supporting the achievement of China’s dual carbon goals.

V. References

[1] Hung Chun Wu, Ching Yi Su, Deng Tswen Shieh, et al. Enhanced high-temperature cycle life of LiFePO4-based Li-ion batteries by vinylene carbonate as electrolyte additive[J]. Electrochem. Solid-State Lett., 2006, 9, A537-A541.

[2] R. Petibon, Jian Xia, J. C. Burns, et al. Study of the consumption of vinylene carbonate in Li[Ni0.33Mn0.33Co0.33]O2/Graphite pouch cells[J]. J.Electrochem.Soc., 2014, 161, A1618-A1624.

[3] N. N. Sinha, A. J. Smith, J. C. Burns, et al. The use of elevated temperature storage experiments to learn about parasitic reactions in wound LiCoO2/Graphite cells[J]. J. Electrochem. Soc., 2011, 158, A1194-A1201.

[4] Daiko Takamatsu, Yuki Orikasa, Shinichiro Mori, et al. Effect of an electrolyte additive of vinylene carbonate on the electronic structure at the surface of a lithium cobalt oxide electrode under battery operating conditions[J]. J. Phys. Chem., 2015, 119, 9791-9797.

[5] Seulki Chae, Jeong Beom Lee, Jae Gil Lee, et al. Artificially-built solid electrolyte interphase via surface-bonded vinylene carbonate derivative on graphite by molecular layer deposition[J]. J. Power Sources, 2017, 370, 131-137.

[6] Zhu Jinwei, Huang Cunying, Ma Delong, et al. A review on vinylene carbonate (VC) [J]. Shandong Chemical Industry, 2023, 20, 123–125.

[7] Lin Yu, Fu Haifeng, Cao Hua. Vinylene Carbonate: A Versatile Synthon in Organic Synthetic Chemistry [J]. Advances in Organic Chemistry, 2024, 44, 2147–2173.

About Cheerchem Advanced Material

Cheerchem Advanced Material is a high-tech enterprise specializing in the R&D, production, and sales of lithium-ion electrolyte additives, lithium salt electrolytes, and functional organosilicon materials. The company has four subsidiaries—Shandong Cheerchem Advanced Material Co., Ltd., Fuzhou Cheerchem New Energy Materials Co., Ltd., Suzhou Qizhu New Materials Co., Ltd., and Hangzhou Sulong Materials Technology Co., Ltd.—which together form a comprehensive industrial chain spanning research and development, manufacturing, and marketing.

The company continuously monitors industry trends and has been deeply engaged in the lithium‑battery electrolyte sector for many years, making it one of the earliest global suppliers to enter the field of lithium‑battery electrolyte additives. Leveraging its robust R&D capabilities, the company has developed functional additives suitable for a wide range of cathode and anode chemistries, effectively enhancing lithium‑battery performance across a broad temperature spectrum, improving high‑voltage tolerance, boosting rate capability and fast‑charging performance, extending cycle life, and ensuring enhanced safety and stability—aligning closely with current market demand for core additives such as VC. At present, the company’s total production capacity for lithium‑battery electrolyte additives stands at 36,900 metric tons per year, including a 9,000‑metric‑ton‑per‑year facility dedicated to vinylene carbonate (VC), providing industry customers with a diverse and reliable product portfolio.

Meanwhile, the company has established a comprehensive end-to-end management system and has obtained certifications including ISO 9001 for quality management, ISO 14001 for environmental management, ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety, IATF 16949 for automotive quality management, and Level II certification for standardized safe production. From raw material procurement and manufacturing to product delivery, we rigorously control quality and safety at every stage, ensuring consistent performance and batch-to-batch reliability. The company remains committed to technological innovation, delivering safer, more environmentally friendly, and higher‑quality products and services to meet global customer needs, contributing to the nation’s dual‑carbon goals, creating value for our customers, and adding vibrancy and excellence to the world.