Electrochemical Interphases for High-Energy Storage Using Reactive Metal Anodes

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Stable electrochemical interphases are vital for regulating mass and charge transport in electrochemical energy storage (EES) systems.
• Current lithium-ion batteries often form interphases spontaneously through degradation, posing challenges for high-energy systems with reactive metal anodes.
• Reactive metal anodes (Li, Na, Si, Sn, Al) face instability issues including chemical, morphological, and hydrodynamic factors, leading to interface evolution and SEI cracking during cycling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify fundamental principles for designing stable metal anode-electrolyte interfaces in EES systems.
• To explore synthesis strategies for creating self-limited, mechanically durable solid electrolyte interphases (SEIs) that accommodate volume changes.
• To bridge the gap between laboratory findings and practical applications by revealing principles for effective interphase design.

Main Methods:

• Review of experimental, continuum theoretical, and computational analyses of interfacial transport.
• Analysis of fundamental connections between SEI composition and interface stability.
• Discussion of design principles and synthesis procedures for artificial solid electrolyte interphases (ASEIs).

Main Results:

• Interfacial transport analysis reveals key connections between SEI composition and stability.
• Design principles and tools for creating stable ASEIs using polymers, ionic liquids, ceramics, nanoparticles, salts, and combinations are presented.
• Hybrid electrodes, utilizing a second electrochemically active material, show promise for scalable ASEI designs.

Conclusions:

• Stable interphases are essential for advanced EES systems, particularly those using reactive metal anodes.
• Rational design of artificial solid electrolyte interphases (ASEIs) is critical to overcome inherent instabilities.
• Hybrid electrodes offer a promising pathway for developing practical, scalable solutions for stable metal anode-electrolyte interfaces.