Highly Effective Polyacrylonitrile-Rich Artificial Solid-Electrolyte-Interphase for Dendrite-Free...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Lithium metal anodes offer high energy density but suffer from dendrite formation, hindering performance and safety.
• Developing effective protection layers is crucial for the practical application of lithium metal batteries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a cost-effective method for creating protective layers on lithium metal anodes using acrylonitrile (AN).
• To evaluate the performance enhancement and interfacial stability of AN-treated lithium metal anodes in solid-state batteries.

Main Methods:

• Spontaneous formation of polymeric layers using acrylonitrile (AN) on lithium metal anodes.
• Cycling performance evaluation of bare and AN-treated lithium metal anodes under high current density.
• Integration and testing of AN-treated anodes with Li$_{10}$GeP$_{2}$S$_{12}$ (LGPS) solid-state electrolytes.

Main Results:

• AN treatment extended the lifetime of lithium metal anodes by 6× (over 900 h vs. 150 h) under high current density.
• The polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-rich artificial solid electrolyte interphase (ASEI) effectively stabilized the Li/LGPS solid-state battery interface.
• Cell overpotential was reduced to one-tenth compared to untreated interfaces.

Conclusions:

• The AN-treatment method provides a viable strategy for creating stable and long-lasting lithium metal anodes.
• This approach significantly enhances the interfacial stability and performance of sulfide-based solid-state batteries.
• The study offers a promising route towards highly efficient and stable solid-state lithium metal batteries.