Accurately constituting robust interfaces for high-performance high-energy lithium metal batteries

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• High-energy lithium metal batteries (LMBs) are promising due to high capacity and low redox potential of lithium anodes and nickel-rich cathodes (NMCs).
• Commercialization is hindered by interface instability issues, including lithium dendrites, solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on anodes, and cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI), transition metal dissolution, and oxygen release on cathodes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in using atomic and molecular layer deposition (ALD and MLD) for creating stable interfaces in Li‖NMC LMBs.
• To discuss the potential of ALD and MLD in overcoming interface challenges for high-performance LMBs.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing atomic and molecular layer deposition (ALD and MLD) to create uniform, conformal, and precisely controlled surface coatings.
• Applying low-temperature deposition processes (≤250 °C) for interface engineering.

Main Results:

• ALD and MLD enable the development of robust interfaces for both lithium anodes and NMC cathodes.
• These techniques offer precise control at the atomic/molecular level for film deposition.
• Uniform and conformal coatings are achieved, enhancing interface stability.

Conclusions:

• ALD and MLD are powerful tools for fabricating advanced surface coatings in LMBs.
• These methods effectively address critical interface stability issues in Li‖NMC cells.
• The precise control offered by ALD and MLD paves the way for high-performance lithium metal batteries.