A new ether-based electrolyte for dendrite-free lithium-metal based rechargeable batteries

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Lithium metal batteries offer high energy density but suffer from dendrite formation and limited cycle life.
• Ether-based electrolytes are promising but often face challenges with stability and lithium metal compatibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel ether-based electrolyte for stable lithium metal electrode cycling.
• To enhance the performance of rechargeable lithium metal batteries through electrolyte engineering.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of a new ether-based electrolyte by incorporating 1,4-dioxane as a co-solvent into a lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide/1,2-dimethoxyethane solution.
• Evaluation of the electrolyte's performance for lithium cycling, including dendrite deposition, coulombic efficiency, and anodic stability.

Main Results:

• The new electrolyte demonstrated stable lithium cycling with dendrite-free lithium deposition, even at high current rates.
• Achieved a high coulombic efficiency of approximately 98%.
• Exhibited good anodic stability up to ~4.87 V vs. Li RE.

Conclusions:

• The developed ether-based electrolyte shows excellent performance for lithium metal electrodes.
• This formulation presents a new possibility for advancing high energy-density rechargeable lithium metal battery systems.