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1. In situ formation of a multicomponent inorganic-rich SEI layer provides a fast charging and high specific energy Li-metal battery

   https://doi.org/10.1039/C9TA05063A  

   Sun, Ho-Hyun; Dolocan, Andrei; Weeks, Jason A.; Rodriguez, Rodrigo; Heller, Adam; Mullins, C. Buddie (July 2019, Journal of Materials Chemistry A)

   The performance of the rechargeable Li metal battery anode is limited by the poor ionic conductivity and poor mechanical properties of its solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer. To overcome this, a 3 : 1 v/v ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) : fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) containing 0.8 M lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) and 0.2 M lithium difluoro(oxalate)borate (LiDFOB) dual-salts with 0.05 M lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF 6 ) was tested to promote the formation of a multitude of SEI-beneficial species. The resulting SEI layer was rich in LiF, Li 2 CO 3 , oligomeric and glass borates, Li 3 N, and Li 2 S, which enhanced its role as a protective yet Li + conductive film, stabilizing the lithium metal anode and minimizing dead lithium build-up. With a stable SEI, a Li/Li[Ni 0.59 Co 0.2 Mn 0.2 Al 0.01 ]O 2 Li-metal battery (LMB) retains 75% of its 177 mA h g −1 specific discharge capacity for 500 hours at a coulombic efficiency of greater than 99.3% at the fast charge–discharge rate of 1.8 mA cm −2 . 

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2. Oxygen‐Induced Structural Disruption for Improved Li ⁺ Transport and Electrochemical Stability of Li ₃ PS ₄

   https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202302785  

   Deck, Michael J.; Chien, Po‐Hsiu; Poudel, Tej P.; Jin, Yongkang; Liu, Haoyu; Hu, Yan‐Yan (January 2024, Advanced Energy Materials)

   Abstract The performance of all‐solid‐state batteries (ASSBs) relies on the Li⁺transport and stability characteristics of solid electrolytes (SEs). Li₃PS₄is notable for its stability against lithium metal, yet its ionic conductivity remains a limiting factor. This study leverages local structural disorder via O substitution to achieve an ionic conductivity of 1.38 mS cm⁻¹with an activation energy of 0.34 eV for Li₃PS_4−xO_x(x = 0.31). Optimal O substitution transforms Li⁺transport from 2D to 3D pathways with increased ion mobility. Li₃PS_3.69O_0.31exhibits improvements in the critical current density and stability against Li metal and retains its electrochemical stability window compared with Li₃PS₄. The practical implementation of Li₃PS_3.69O_0.31in ASSBs half‐cells, particularly when coupled with TiS₂as the cathode active material, demonstrates substantially enhanced capacity and rate performance. This work elucidates the utility of introducing local structural disorder to ameliorate SE properties and highlights the benefits of strategically combining the inherent strengths of sulfides and oxides via creating oxysulfide SEs. 

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3. Self-assembled vertically aligned Ni nanopillars in CeO ₂ with anisotropic magnetic and transport properties for energy applications

   https://doi.org/10.1039/c8nr05532g  

   Huang, Jijie; Qi, Zhimin; Li, Leigang; Wang, Han; Xue, Sichuang; Zhang, Bruce; Zhang, Xinghang; Wang, Haiyan (January 2018, Nanoscale)

   Self-assembled vertically aligned metal–oxide (Ni–CeO 2 ) nanocomposite thin films with novel multifunctionalities have been successfully deposited by a one-step growth method. The novel nanocomposite structures presents high-density Ni-nanopillars vertically aligned in a CeO 2 matrix. Strong and anisotropic magnetic properties have been demonstrated, with a saturation magnetization ( M s ) of ∼175 emu cm −3 and ∼135 emu cm −3 for out-of-plane and in-plane directions, respectively. Such unique vertically aligned ferromagnetic Ni nanopillars in the CeO 2 matrix have been successfully incorporated in high temperature superconductor YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 (YBCO) coated conductors as effective magnetic flux pinning centers. The highly anisotropic nanostructures with high density vertical interfaces between the Ni nanopillars and CeO 2 matrix also promote the mixed electrical and ionic conductivities out-of-plane and thus demonstrate great potential as nanocomposite anode materials for solid oxide fuel cells and other potential applications requiring anisotropic ionic transport properties. 

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4. Is the single-ion conductor cubic Li ₇ La ₃ Zr ₂ O ₁₂ a binary ionic electrolyte?

   https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MH00069F  

   Bai, Peng (July 2025, Materials Horizons)

   Garnet-type cubic Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂(c-LLZO) is a single-ion conductor, but the electrochemically generated charged vacancies make it a binary ionic electrolyte, which explains the current- and thickness-dependent lithium dendrite initiation dynamics. 

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5. A BF ₃ ‐Doped MXene Dual‐Layer Interphase for a Reliable Lithium‐Metal Anode

   https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202210111  

   Shang, Mingwei; Shovon, Osman Goni; Wong, Francis En; Niu, Junjie (February 2023, Advanced Materials)

   Abstract A dual‐layer interphase that consists of an in‐situ‐formed lithium carboxylate organic layer and a thin BF 3 ‐doped monolayer Ti 3 C 2 MXene on Li metal is reported. The honeycomb‐structured organic layer increases the wetting of electrolyte, leading to a thin solid electrolyte interface (SEI). While the BF 3 ‐doped monolayer MXene provides abundant active sites for lithium homogeneous nucleation and growth, resulting in about 50% reduced thickness of inorganic‐rich components among the SEI layer. A low overpotential of less than 30 mV over 1000 h cycling in symmetric cells is received. The functional BF 3  groups, along with the excellent electronic conductivity and smooth surface of the MXene, greatly reduce the lithium plating/stripping energy barrier, enabling a dendrite‐free lithium‐metal anode. The battery with this dual‐layer coated lithium metal as the anode displays greatly improved electrochemical performance. A high capacity‐retention of 175.4 mAh g −1 at 1.0 C is achieved after 350 cycles. In a pouch cell with a capacity of 475 mAh, the battery still exhibits a high discharge capacity of 165.6 mAh g −1 with a capacity retention of 90.2% after 200 cycles. In contrast to the fast capacity decay of pure Li metal, the battery using NCA as the cathode also displays excellent capacity retention in both coin and pouch cells. The dual‐layer modified surface provides an effective approach in stabilizing the Li‐metal anode. 

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