Engineering Stress-Potential Coupled Interface on Ultrathin Lithium Anodes Toward 450 Wh Kg-1-Level Long-Cycling
Shaozhen Huang1, Tianbao Li1, Zhangdi Xie2
1State Key Laboratory of Powder Metallurgy, Central South University, Changsha, P. R. China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|December 26, 2025
Summary
This study introduces a novel stress-responsive nano-interface for dendrite-free lithium anodes, enabling stable, high-energy-density batteries. The engineered interface promotes uniform lithium plating for extended cycle life.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Battery Technology
Background:
- Dendrite formation in lithium anodes hinders the development of high-energy-density batteries.
- Current interface designs lack adaptive mechanisms to prevent dendrite growth during lithium plating.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer a stress-responsive nano-interface for ultrathin lithium anodes.
- To enable dendrite-free lithium plating and enhance battery cycle life and energy density.
Main Methods:
- Mechanochemical reaction between ferrocene carboxaldehyde (FcCHO) and metallic lithium to create a Li@FcCHO anode.
- In situ Kelvin probe force microscopy and scanning electrochemical microscopy to analyze interface behavior.
- Density functional theory calculations to understand stress-induced electronic changes.
Main Results:
- The Li@FcCHO anode demonstrated a stress-potential coupled interface, responding locally to lithium plating stress.
- Uniform, dendrite-free lithium deposition was achieved by suppressing dendrite growth.
- The anode exhibited over 5000 hours of cycling life under high areal capacity.
- A practical 452 Wh/kg pouch cell achieved 85.20% capacity retention after 470 cycles.
Conclusions:
- The developed stress-potential coupled interface design is effective for creating stable, ultrathin lithium anodes.
- This approach advances the development of next-generation high-energy-density batteries.
- The engineered nano-interface offers a promising strategy for practical lithium metal batteries.
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