Stable Li metal anode in a lithiophilic shuttle

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Battery Technology

Background:

• Lithium dendrite growth hinders the performance and safety of high-energy-density lithium metal batteries (LMBs).
• Conventional lithiophilic coatings often form dense layers that impede ion and charge transfer, negating their benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a new lithiophilic structure that effectively suppresses lithium dendrite growth.
• To enhance ion and charge transfer kinetics at the electrode interface in LMBs.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a lithiophilic shuttle via superposition of thin layered copper oxide (L-CuO) flakes.
• Characterization of the shuttle's structure and electrochemical performance in LMBs.

Main Results:

• The L-CuO based lithiophilic shuttle forms conjoined channels after conversion, maintaining a high electrolyte volume fraction.
• This structure facilitates fast and lateral Li+ transfer, enabling stable Li plating/stripping.
• Achieved stable cycling at high current densities (3 mA cm⁻²) with a practical capacity (5 mA h cm⁻²).

Conclusions:

• The hierarchical lithiophilic shuttle structure offers a promising strategy for advancing high-energy-density LMBs.
• This approach overcomes limitations of conventional coatings by promoting efficient mass and charge transport.
• The developed material facilitates stable and reversible lithium metal cycling for practical battery applications.