Solid Electrolyte Interphase Recombination on Graphene Nanoribbons for Lithium Anode.

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) are crucial for next-generation energy storage.
• Lithium dendrite formation during cycling is a major obstacle to their practical application.
• The solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) composition and structure significantly influence dendrite growth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel strategy for modifying the SEI to suppress lithium dendrite formation.
• To enhance the electrochemical performance and safety of lithium metal batteries.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized a Li protective layer with SEI grafted on graphene nanoribbons (SEI@GNRs) via in situ reactions.
• Employed experimental characterization and theoretical calculations to analyze SEI@GNRs.
• Investigated the effect of SEI@GNRs on lithium ion deposition and dendrite growth.

Main Results:

• The 3D structure of SEI@GNRs effectively reduces local current density and Li+ flux.
• The SEI layer, rich in LiF, Li3N, and Li2S, lowers nucleation overpotential and promotes uniform Li+ deposition.
• SEI@GNRs isolate electron transport, synergistically suppressing lithium dendrite formation and growth.

Conclusions:

• The SEI@GNRs strategy offers a promising approach to control SEI properties and mitigate dendrite issues in LMBs.
• This method significantly improves the electrochemical performance of lithium metal batteries.
• The design strategy provides valuable insights for advancing the development of high-performance lithium metal batteries.