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Reflex Charging for Anion-Derived Solid Electrolyte Interphase Formation
Gyeoul Seong1, Min-Gyun Kim2, Eunyeong Jung3
1Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|August 8, 2026
Summary
A new reflex charging method stabilizes lithium metal batteries by controlling the interphase layer during charging. This strategy improves lithium deposition and stripping, enhancing battery longevity and performance.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Battery Technology
Background:
- Lithium (Li) metal batteries offer high energy density but face challenges with unstable interphases, leading to dendrite growth and poor reversibility.
- Controlling the interphase formation during the early stages of operation is crucial for stabilizing Li metal electrodes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a novel reflex charging strategy for dynamically reprogramming the interfacial environment of Li metal electrodes.
- To promote the formation of a stable, inorganic-rich interphase for improved battery performance.
Main Methods:
- Implementing a reflex charging strategy involving short discharge pulses during the charging process.
- Analyzing the changes in Li+ solvation structures and interfacial environments.
- Evaluating the performance of Li metal batteries (LMBs) with the new charging protocol.
Main Results:
- The reflex charging strategy sustained anion enrichment and shifted Li+ solvation, promoting an inorganic-rich interphase.
- The developed interphase reduced interfacial resistance, enabling uniform Li deposition and improved Li deposition/stripping reversibility.
- Full cells with LiFePO4 (LFP) cathodes retained 73% capacity after 500 cycles, showing enhanced cycling stability and calendar aging resistance.
Conclusions:
- Operation-driven formation protocols, like reflex charging, are effective for controlling interfacial chemistry in LMBs.
- This approach offers a practical alternative or complement to materials-based strategies for stabilizing Li metal electrodes.
- The study highlights a promising method for enhancing the practical viability of high-energy-density lithium metal batteries.
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