Dendrite-Free Li Metal Anode for Rechargeable Li-SO

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Dendritic growth of lithium metal anodes is a major obstacle for practical lithium metal rechargeable batteries.
• Uncontrolled lithium deposition leads to short circuits and reduced battery lifespan.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of surface modification using a Na-containing SO2 electrolyte for preventing lithium dendrite growth.
• To enhance the electrochemical performance and stability of lithium metal anodes.

Main Methods:

• Surface modification of lithium metal anodes with a Na-containing SO2 electrolyte.
• Electrochemical cycling under high areal capacity (5 mA h cm-2) and high current density (3 mA cm-2).
• Characterization of surface morphology and electrochemical performance.

Main Results:

• The Na-containing SO2 electrolyte effectively suppressed dendritic lithium growth on the anode surface.
• The modified anode showed no dendrites even under demanding conditions, unlike the unmodified anode.
• Enhanced electrochemical performance was observed due to a uniform and dense Na-containing inorganic surface layer.

Conclusions:

• Surface modification with a Na-containing SO2 inorganic electrolyte is a highly effective strategy for achieving dendrite-free lithium deposition.
• This method offers a promising pathway for developing stable and high-performance lithium metal anodes for rechargeable batteries.