Continuous plating/stripping behavior of solid-state lithium metal anode in a 3D ion-conductive framework

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Lithium metal batteries offer high energy density but face challenges like lithium dendrite formation and interfacial instability.
• Solid-state electrolytes are a promising solution for stabilizing lithium metal anodes.
• Developing robust hosts for lithium deposition is crucial for practical lithium metal battery applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the plating and stripping behavior of lithium metal anodes within a 3D garnet-type ion-conductive framework.
• To demonstrate the potential of a solid-state ion-conductive host in preventing lithium dendrite growth.
• To evaluate the cycling stability and performance of the developed solid-state lithium metal anode.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a 3D garnet-type ion-conductive framework as a host material for the lithium metal anode.
• Employing a planar current collector at the base of the solid-state electrolyte.
• Conducting electrochemical cycling tests to assess lithium plating/stripping behavior and stability.

Main Results:

• Lithium metal plated uniformly from the bottom of the host, moving away from the separator and preventing short circuits.
• The solid-state deposition within the garnet host prevented lithium dendrite formation, ensuring smooth lithium growth.
• The solid-state lithium anode demonstrated stable cycling for 300 hours at 0.5 mA cm⁻² with low overpotential, outperforming other ceramic electrolytes.

Conclusions:

• The 3D garnet-type ion-conductive framework effectively suppresses lithium dendrite formation in lithium metal anodes.
• The solid-state deposition strategy enables dendrite-free lithium plating and stripping, enhancing battery safety and durability.
• This approach holds significant potential for developing safe and reliable lithium metal batteries for advanced energy storage applications.