High-performance anode-less all-solid-state batteries enabled by multisite nucleation and an elastic network

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Anode-less all-solid-state batteries (ALASSBs) offer high energy density and safety for green mobility.
• Heterogeneous lithium deposition and mechanical degradation hinder ALASSB performance, especially at ambient temperatures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a protective layer strategy for ALASSBs to enable uniform lithium deposition and mitigate mechanical stress.
• To improve the cycling stability and performance of ALASSBs at room temperature.

Main Methods:

• A novel multi-seed strategy was developed, integrating lithiophilic metallic seeds with a polymer matrix.
• Multiple seeds with varied lithiation potentials were used to promote diverse lithiation pathways.
• An elastic polymer network was employed to dissipate stress within the protective layer.

Main Results:

• Uniform lithium deposition was achieved due to the multi-seed nucleation sites.
• The elastic polymer matrix effectively mitigated mechanical degradation during cycling.
• The ALASSB full-cell retained 70% of its capacity after 100 cycles at 0.5C and 25 °C.

Conclusions:

• The synergistic effect of multiple lithiophilic seeds and an elastic binder provides a viable design principle for ALASSB protective layers.
• This strategy enhances the practical implementation of ALASSBs for energy storage applications.
• The developed method offers a pathway to improved battery longevity and performance in green mobility.