CHEMICALLY INERT ADDITIVES FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS

A safe electrolyte comprising a liquefied gas solvent that will transition from a liquid state to a gas state (“gas off”) at a pressure of 100 kPa and a temperature of 293.15 K is disclosed. The electrolyte is a mixture of a compressed gas solvent and a salt, and includes a hydrocarbon solvent of a sufficient concentration to promote solubility of the salt into the compressed gas solvent without phase separation. The molar ratio of the hydrocarbon solvent to the compressed gas solvent is in a range of 10:90 to 90:10. The hydrocarbon solvent may be selected to lower the global warming potential (GWP) of the electrolyte by at least 10%. This safe electrolyte can be used to manufacture an electrochemical energy storage device.