Ferrocene-Based Artificial Interfacial Layer for High-Performance Lithium Metal Anodes: Continuous Regulation of Li⁺...

The diversified design of hybrid artificial layers is a promising method for suppressing the Li dendrite growth and maintaining high Colombic efficiency of lithium (Li) metal anode. Previously, various kinds of organic/inorganic hybrid artificial layers were constructed on the Li metal anode and possessed a positive effect on electrochemical performance. However, the tunable synthesis of artificial layers to continuously regulate the Li diffusion behavior remains a challenge. In this work, the Li diffusion behavior could be tuned by modulating the proportion of components (LiClO₄, PMMA and ferrocene (Fc)) in the hybrid artificial layer (LF layer). After optimizing the proportion of each component, the resultant artificial SEI layer exhibits a high Li⁺ transference number (t_Li+ = 0.66) and a high Young's modulus (4.8 GPa). Based on the excellent properties of the as-constructed Fc-based artificial SEI layer, a high-performance lithium anode with no volume effect and dendrite growth is achieved. The Li||Li symmetric cells with a Fc-based artificial SEI layer yielded a stable cycle performance for 1500 h with a high current density of 10 mA cm^-2. The pouch cell with LF@Li anode coupled with high-loading LiFePO₄ cathode (12.8 mg cm^-2) exhibits excellent cyclic stability for 250 cycles with a capacity retention of 75% at 0.5C rate.