Metallic lithium is the most competitive anode material for next‐generation lithium (Li)‐ion batteries. However, one of its major issues is Li dendrite growth and detachment, which not only causes safety issues, but also continuously consumes electrolyte and Li, leading to low coulombic efficiency (CE) and short cycle life for Li metal batteries. Herein, the Li dendrite growth of metallic lithium anode is suppressed by forming a lithium fluoride (LiF)‐enriched solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) through the lithiation of surface‐fluorinated mesocarbon microbeads (MCMB‐F) anodes. The robust LiF‐enriched SEI with high interfacial energy to Li metal effectively promotes planar growth of Li metal on the Li surface and meanwhile prevents its vertical penetration into the LiF‐enriched SEI from forming Li dendrites. At a discharge capacity of 1.2 mAh cm−2, a high CE of >99.2% for Li plating/stripping in FEC‐based electrolyte is achieved within 25 cycles. Coupling the pre‐lithiated MCMB‐F (Li@MCMB‐F) anode with a commercial LiFePO4cathode at the positive/negative (P/N) capacity ratio of 1:1, the LiFePO4//Li@MCMB‐F cells can be charged/discharged at a high areal capacity of 2.4 mAh cm−2for 110 times at a negligible capacity decay of 0.01% per cycle.
All‐solid‐state batteries with metallic lithium (LiBCC) anode and solid electrolyte (SE) are under active development. However, an unstable SE/LiBCCinterface due to electrochemical and mechanical instabilities hinders their operation. Herein, an ultra‐thin nanoporous mixed ionic and electronic conductor (MIEC) interlayer (≈3.25 µm), which regulates LiBCCdeposition and stripping, serving as a 3D scaffold for Li0ad‐atom formation, LiBCCnucleation, and long‐range transport of ions and electrons at SE/LiBCCinterface is demonstrated. Consisting of lithium silicide and carbon nanotubes, the MIEC interlayer is thermodynamically stable against LiBCCand highly lithiophilic. Moreover, its nanopores (<100 nm) confine the deposited LiBCCto the size regime where LiBCCexhibits “smaller is much softer” size‐dependent plasticity governed by diffusive deformation mechanisms. The LiBCCthus remains soft enough not to mechanically penetrate SE in contact. Upon further plating, LiBCCgrows in between the current collector and the MIEC interlayer, not directly contacting the SE. As a result, a full‐cell having Li3.75Si‐CNT/LiBCCfoil as an anode and LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2as a cathode displays a high specific capacity of 207.8 mAh g−1, 92.0% initial Coulombic efficiency, 88.9% capacity retention after 200 cycles (Coulombic efficiency reaches 99.9% after tens of cycles), and excellent rate capability (76% at 5 C).
more » « less- Award ID(s):
- 2034902
- PAR ID:
- 10419122
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Advanced Materials
- Volume:
- 35
- Issue:
- 22
- ISSN:
- 0935-9648
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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