What are the main technical drawbacks of LiPF6 and how is the industry addressing them?

What are the main technical drawbacks of LiPF6 and how is the industry addressing them?
Despite being the dominant electrolyte salt, LiPF6 has three critical weaknesses. First, it hydrolyzes on contact with moisture, generating HF that corrodes the cathode and shortens battery life. Second, thermal stability is poor—it begins decomposing above 80°C into LiF and PF5, and PF5 reacts with SEI film components between 80-100°C, degrading performance. Third, at low temperatures LiPF6 crystallizes in the electrolyte, forming flocculent precipitates that reduce ionic conductivity. These issues push the industry toward LiFSI as a complementary salt. LiFSI offers better temperature tolerance and conductivity, but its complex synthesis and higher cost currently limit it to additive-level usage, mainly in high-nickel ternary systems. Production methods for LiPF6 have also evolved—the HF solvent method now accounts for over 80% of domestic output, replacing older gas-solid and ion-exchange routes that yielded lower purity.