Implementation of orbitrap mass spectrometry for improved GC-MS target analysis in lithium ion battery electrolytes

The implementation of orbitrap mass spectrometry for target analysis of volatile species in aged lithium-ion batteries was performed in a case study on butyl carbonates. In comparison to previously applied single quadrupole-based methods, major improvements were obtained.•Sensitivity was improved by effectively background free extracted ion chromatograms of identified marker fragment ions.•Typical isobaric interferences of typical carbonate fragment ions e.g. caused by column bleeding were identified and false positive identification avoided.•Analysis of isotope labeled electrolytes was optimized regarding mass spectrometric data reliability with mass accuracies <0.5 ppm and mass resolutions >100,000.