锂金属负极的挑战与改善策略研究进展

锂金属由于其高比容量和低电极电势等优点被认为是下一代高比能量电池体系中最有潜力的负极材料。然而由于锂金属的高活性,锂负极在循环过程中会产生大量的枝晶,导致SEI(solid-electrolyte interphase)破裂,并且枝晶增加了电极与电解液的接触面积,使得副反应进一步增加。此外,脱落的枝晶形成死锂,从而降低电池的充放电库仑效率。并且不可控的锂枝晶持续生长会刺穿隔膜引发电池短路,伴随着电池热失控等安全问题。本综述基于锂负极存在的主要挑战,结合理解锂枝晶的成核生长模型等机理总结并深度分析近些年来在液态和固态电解质体系中改善锂金属负极的主要策略及其作用机理,为促进高比能量锂金属电池的应用提供借鉴参考作用。     

锂金属负极的可逆性与沉积形貌的关联

高能量密度二次电池的商业化将会推动便携式电子设备和电动车的飞速发展。锂金属电池因具有较高的理论能量密度而受到研究者的广泛关注。然而,锂金属负极较低的库仑效率(CE)和枝晶生长等问题,严重制约了锂金属电池的发展。库仑效率是衡量电池体系可逆性的关键参数之一,锂金属负极的库仑效率在不同电解液中存在较大的差异,本文以四种常见的电解液为例,包括1 mol·L^-1六氟磷酸锂-碳酸乙烯酯/碳酸二甲酯电解液,1 mol·L^-1六氟磷酸锂-碳酸乙烯酯/碳酸二甲酯+5%(w)氟代碳酸乙烯酯电解液,1 mol·L^-1双(三氟甲烷磺酰)亚胺锂-乙二醇二甲醚/1,3二氧戊环+2%(w)硝酸锂电解液,以及4 mol·L^-1双氟磺酰亚胺锂-乙二醇二甲醚电解液,利用原子力显微镜研究了不同电解液体系中锂金属的生长行为,探讨了锂金属沉积形貌与其库仑效率之间的联系,为发展高效的锂金属负极提供了参考依据。     

氟代溶剂在锂金属电池中的应用

近年来，锂金属电池由于具有较高的能量密度而成为储能领域的研究热点。电解液作为锂金属电池的“血液”发挥着至关重要的作用。在传统锂离子电池电解液中，锂金属负极与电解液之间的界面副反应严重并伴随着锂枝晶生长，从而导致安全隐患以及循环寿命缩短等问题。在解决锂金属负极问题上，电解液调控策略具有易操作性和有效性，因而在推动锂金属电池发展方面具有举足轻重的地位。氟代电解液是目前重要的研究方向，氟代电解液在循环过程中能够在电极表面形成富含LiF的固体电解质界面膜(SEI)；该界面膜不仅可以有效抑制负极锂枝晶的形成，并且在正极方面能够大幅提高电解液的氧化稳定性，从而提升高电压正极的适配性和锂金属电池的循环稳定性。氟代电解液中氟代溶剂/氟代锂盐的分子结构对电解液的溶剂化结构有重要影响。当氟代溶剂分子中氟原子的位置与数量不同时，氟代溶剂的物理化学性质也会随之发生变化，进而改变了电解液与电极的界面反应性。因此，氟代溶剂能够起到调制SEI膜成分和结构的作用，是决定电池性能的关键因素。本文总结了应用于锂金属电池的主要氟代溶剂，尤其是近几年来发展的新型氟代溶剂；着重介绍了高度氟代的溶剂分子作为局域超浓电解液的稀释剂，以及对溶剂进行精准分子设计得到的部分氟代溶剂等。此外，本文还分析探讨了氟代溶剂分子与电池性能之间的构效关系，展望了构建新型氟代溶剂分子的策略，希望能对电解液溶剂分子的结构设计以及构效关系的评估有一定的启发意义。     

电极界面浓差极化对锂金属沉积的影响

锂金属作为下一代高能量密度电池的理想负极材料受到研究人员广泛关注。然而,锂枝晶生长引起的安全隐患和循环寿命短等问题严重影响了锂金属电池的实用化进程。本文以电化学现象和理论为依据,从浓差极化角度详细分析锂金属电沉积过程中枝晶生长、死锂形成和全电池失效机制,并对目前研究较多的多孔宿主电极中的浓差极化及枝晶抑制进行分析,提出锂金属界面浓差电池现象。本文得到的结论为研究人员更深入地探究锂金属保护策略提供了理论依据。     

高浓度锂盐电解液

基于1 mol ·dm^-3 LiPF₆/EC的传统非水型电解液已在锂离子电池中应用了20年。高功率、高比能锂离子电池以及锂金属电池（如Li-O₂和Li-S）的发展,对电解液提出了更高的要求,使得电解液的研究与开发到了一个革新换代的阶段。研究者们已经在离子液体、聚合物电解质和无机固态电解质等新型体系研究方面取得一定的研究成果,但是这些新体系存在的本征问题使其商业化应用面临一定的困难。研究者们也开始重新审视已优化的常规液态电解液体系,高浓度锂盐电解液（>3 mol ·dm^-3）再次引起广泛关注。本文综述了高浓度锂盐电解液的发展历程、溶液结构特征、分类标准及其特殊的物理化学性能、锂离子传输性质和电解液/电极相容性;对高浓度锂盐电解液存在的主要问题进行了简要分析,提出了相应的改进措施,展望了高浓度锂盐电解液未来的发展方向,为新型电解液的开发提供了一条新思路。     

高浓度LiI实现硫正极稳定的高效利用

具有高比容量和低成本的锂硫电池被认为是下一代电池的重要候选者.然而,低的硫利用率、严重的穿梭效应以及金属锂负极枝晶的生长制约其实际应用.在电解液中引入添加剂被证实是一种简单有效的性能改善策略.为此,本文将高浓度的LiI引入到Li-S电池的常规电解液中,研究高浓度的LiI电解液对硫正极的利用、金属锂负极的保护以及对应电池电化学性能的影响.结果表明,高浓度的碘化锂电解液能够在金属锂负极表层形成稳定的保护层,抑制了锂枝晶的产生.与此同时,碘化锂的引入大幅度提高电池的比容量、有效改善电池的倍率性能和循环稳定性.通过优化发现,浓度为0.5 mol·L^-1的LiI具有最佳的电化学性能.采用此电解液的锂硫电池,在1 C倍率下,放电容量高达1 200 mAh·g^-1. 200次循环之后,容量仍能保持在880 mAh·g^-1,容量保持率接近75%.此外,电池展示了良好的倍率性能,在5 C倍率下,放电容量依然高达700 mAh·g^-1.     

三维铜基集流体的构筑及在锂金属电池中的应用

锂金属因其具有超高比容量(3860 mAh·g^-1)以及较低的氧化还原电势(-3.04 V vs 标准氢电极),被认为是下一代高能量密度二次电池的理想负极材料。然而“无宿主”的金属锂在金属/电解液界面层进行沉积/剥离,不可避免地会生长枝晶,不仅使电极表面电流分布不均,同时可能会刺穿电池隔膜而导致电池短路。通过构造三维集流体/锂金属复合负极可以有效调控锂沉积行为并抑制枝晶生长,从而提升电池的库仑效率、循环寿命以及倍率性能,该领域近年来一直都是研究的热点。本文首先总结了基于三维集流体抑制锂枝晶的相关原理和模型;其次针对用于负极的铜基集流体,根据构成三维结构基底单元的维度,总结了三维铜基集流体的制备方法及其在锂金属负极保护方面的应用;最后,对三维集流体构造复合锂负极进行了总结和展望。     

柱状金属锂沉积物:电解液添加剂的影响

二次电池的能量密度已成为推动电动汽车和便携式电子产品技术向前发展的重要指标。使用石墨负极的锂离子电池正接近其理论能量密度的天花板,但仍难以满足高端储能设备的需求。金属锂负极因其极高的理论比容量和极低的电极电位,受到了广泛关注。然而,锂沉积过程中枝晶的生长会导致电池安全性差等问题。电解液对金属锂的沉积有着至关重要的影响。本文设计了一种独特的电解槽体系来进行柱状锂的沉积,研究了不同电解液体系(1mol·L^-1LiPF6-碳酸乙烯酯/碳酸二乙酯(EC/DEC,体积比为1:1)、1 mol·L^-1 LiPF6-氟代碳酸乙烯酯(FEC,体积分数5%)-EC/DEC (体积比为1:1))对金属锂沉积的影响。对两种电解液中金属锂沉积物长径比的研究表明,电解液的组分可以显著地影响金属锂的沉积形貌,在加入氟代碳酸乙烯酯(FEC)添加剂之后,柱状锂的直径从0.3–0.6μm增加到0.7–1.3μm,长径比从12.5下降到5.6。长径比的降低有助于减小金属锂和电解液的反应面积,提高金属锂负极的利用率和循环寿命。通过考察循环后锂片的表面化学性质,发现FEC的分解增加了锂表面固态电解质界面层中氟化锂(LiF)组分的比例,提高了界面层中锂离子的扩散速率,减少了锂的成核位点,从而给予锂核更大的生长空间,降低了沉积出的柱状锂的长径比。     

全固态无负极锂金属电池纳米化复合集流体构筑

全固态无负极锂金属电池(AFSSLB)是一种通过初次充电形成金属锂负极的新型锂电池,它的负极与正极容量比为1,能使任意锂化正极系统达到最大能量密度。无机固态电解质的引入使无负极锂金属体系兼具高安全性。然而,电池循环过程中的锂离子通量不均导致的界面接触损失和锂枝晶生长会不断加剧,从而造成电池循环容量迅速衰减。本文构筑了纳米化的银碳复合集流体,显著增强了全固态无负极锂金属电池中集流体-电解质界面的性能。使用该集流体的固态电池循环过程中接触良好,界面阻抗为～10?·cm^-2。从而实现了超过7.0mAh·cm^-2锂金属的均匀稳定沉积,并在0.25mA·cm^-2的电流条件下实现循环200次以上。     

利用原位氟化保护层改善三维锡锂合金/碳纸负极贫电解液下性能

金属锂具有最高的理论比容量(3860 mAh·g^?1)和最低的还原电势(?3.04 V),是新型高能量密度电池负极材料的最佳选择之一。然而由于金属锂负极表面自发生成的固态电解质界面(SEI)十分不稳定,导致锂枝晶的产生和电池容量快速衰减,严重限制了锂金属电池的商业化应用。因此,本工作利用碳酸双(2,2,2-三氟乙基)酯(DTFEC)添加剂在三维锡锂合金/碳纸负极(SnLi/Cp)表面原位构筑了高机械强度和离子穿透性的含氟化物(LiF和SnF2)保护层,有效地改善了锂负极的倍率性能和循环稳定性。结果显示,SnLi/Cp对称电池在8 mA·cm^?2的电流密度下经过100次循环后过电位仅为90 mV。当将电解液降低到12μL(1.5μL·(mAh)?1)时,在5 mA·cm^?2的电流密度下对称电池仍具有优异的稳定性;SnLi/Cp||NMC811电池在1C(1.5 mA·cm^?2)条件下能稳定循环300圈以上,库伦效率高达98.1%。这种方法能够显著改善锂金属负极的循环稳定性,有助于实现高能量密度锂金属电池的实际应用。     

一种有助于稳定锂金属循环的富氟化位点框架结构

锂金属是下一代高能量密度二次电池的理想负极材料,然而它的应用仍然受制于较差的循环稳定性。近期,二维氟化界面被广泛用于改善锂金属负极的成核机制、沉积形貌和循环稳定性。本工作通过将体积缩小化的氟化石墨颗粒与锂离子传导网络结合,获得了一种富氟化位点的三维框架结构。实验结果证明此类三维氟化结构可显著提升锂金属负极在不同电流密度和容量下的循环稳定性,且优于二维氟化界面结构。通过本工作的研究,证明了相较于单纯的二维氟化界面,三维锂离子传导网络和富氟化位点的合理结合可以成为一种改进的界面结构用于锂金属负极保护,为高能量密度锂金属电池的负极保护提供了新的设计思路。     

Solvation Rule for Solid‐Electrolyte Interphase Enabler in Lithium‐Metal Batteries

Despite the exceptionally high energy density of lithium metal anodes, the practical application of lithium‐metal batteries (LMBs) is still impeded by the instability of the interphase between the lithium metal and the electrolyte. To formulate a functional electrolyte system that can stabilize the lithium‐metal anode, the solvation behavior of the solvent molecules must be understood because the electrochemical properties of a solvent can be heavily influenced by its solvation status. We unambiguously demonstrated the solvation rule for the solid‐electrolyte interphase (SEI) enabler in an electrolyte system. In this study, fluoroethylene carbonate was used as the SEI enabler due to its ability to form a robust SEI on the lithium metal surface, allowing relatively stable LMB cycling. The results revealed that the solvation number of fluoroethylene carbonate must be ≥1 to ensure the formation of a stable SEI in which the sacrificial reduction of the SEI enabler subsequently leads to the stable cycling of LMBs.     

Solvation Rule for Solid-Electrolyte Interphase Enabler in Lithium-Metal Batteries

Despite the exceptionally high energy density of lithium metal anodes, the practical application of lithium-metal batteries (LMBs) is still impeded by the instability of the interphase between the lithium metal and the electrolyte. To formulate a functional electrolyte system that can stabilize the lithium-metal anode, the solvation behavior of the solvent molecules must be understood because the electrochemical properties of a solvent can be heavily influenced by its solvation status. We unambiguously demonstrated the solvation rule for the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) enabler in an electrolyte system. In this study, fluoroethylene carbonate was used as the SEI enabler due to its ability to form a robust SEI on the lithium metal surface, allowing relatively stable LMB cycling. The results revealed that the solvation number of fluoroethylene carbonate must be ≥1 to ensure the formation of a stable SEI in which the sacrificial reduction of the SEI enabler subsequently leads to the stable cycling of LMBs.     

Recent progress in lithium-ion and lithium metal batteries

Moving towards carbon-free energy and global commercialization of electric vehicles stimulated extensive development in the field of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), and to date, many scientific and technological advances have been achieved. The number of research works devoted to developing high-capacity and stable materials for lithium- ion and lithium metal batteries (LMBs) is constantly rising. This review covers the main progress in the development of LIBs and LMBs based on research works published in 2021. One of the main goals in the recent publications is to solve the problem of instability of layered nickel-rich lithium– nickel–cobalt–manganese oxides (Ni-rich NMC) cathodes, as well as silicon anodes. Improving the stability of NMC cathodes can be achieved by doping them with cations as well as by coating the oxides’ surfaces with protective layers (organic polymers and inorganic materials). The most effective strategies for dampening volumetric changes in silicon anodes include using porous silicon structures, obtaining composites with carbon, coating silicon-containing particles with inorganic or polymeric materials, and replacing standard binder materials. Much work has been devoted to suppressing dendrite formation in LMBs by forming stable coating layers on the surface of lithium metal, preparing composite anodes and alloys, and changing the composition of electrolytes. At the same time, in the field of electrolyte development, many research works have been devoted to the search for new hybrid polymer electrolytes containing lithium-conducting inorganic materials.     

锂离子电池高容量合金基含锂负极材料的研究进展

现有的以石墨为负极的锂离子电池能量密度逐渐接近其理论极限. 基于合金化反应机制的高容量含锂负极材料Li_xM_y(M为能够和锂发生合金化反应的元素)是一类新兴的负极材料, 具有数倍于石墨的储锂比容量, 且可以为电池提供活性锂源. 这些特性使其能够与高容量无锂正极材料(如S, O₂, FeF₃和V₂O₅等)相匹配, 构建下一代高比能锂离子电池新体系. 本文综述了近年来高容量合金基含锂负极材料(如Li_xSi, Li_xSn, Li₃P和Li_xAl基系列材料)的研究进展, 分析了所面临的挑战, 概述了材料的合成与电极的制备方法, 并介绍了它们在常规锂离子电池、 锂离子-硫电池及锂离子-空气电池等多个全电池体系中的应用实例, 提出并举证了其电化学性能优化与调控的策略, 最后展望了未来的研究方向.     

A Systematic Study on the Effects of Solvating Solvents and Additives in Localized High-Concentration Electrolytes over Electrochemical Performance of Lithium-Ion Batteries

Localized high-concentration electrolytes (LHCEs) based on five different types of solvents were systematically studied and compared in lithium (Li)-ion batteries (LIBs). The unique solvation structure of LHCEs promotes the participation of Li salt in forming solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on graphite (Gr) anode, which enables solvents previously considered incompatible with Gr to achieve reversible lithiation/delithiation. However, the long cyclability of LIBs is still subject to the intrinsic properties of the solvent species in LHCEs. Such issue can be readily resolved by introducing a small amount of additive into LHCEs. The synergetic decompositions of Li salt, solvating solvent and additive yield effective SEIs and cathode electrolyte interphases (CEIs) in most of the studied LHCEs. This study reveals that both the structure and the composition of solvation sheaths in LHCEs have significant effect on SEI and CEI, and consequently, the cycle life of energetically dense LIBs.     

Reactive Polymer as Artificial Solid Electrolyte Interface for Stable Lithium Metal Batteries

Lithium (Li) metal anodes have the highest theoretical capacity and lowest electrochemical potential making them ideal for Li metal batteries (LMBs). However, Li dendrite formation on the anode impedes the proper discharge capacity and practical cycle life of LMBs, particularly in carbonate electrolytes. Herein, we developed a reactive alternative polymer named P(St-MaI) containing carboxylic acid and cyclic ether moieties which would in situ form artificial polymeric solid electrolyte interface (SEI) with Li. This SEI can accommodate volume changes and maintain good interfacial contact. The presence of carboxylic acid and cyclic ether pendant groups greatly contribute to the induction of uniform Li ion deposition. In addition, the presence of benzyl rings makes the polymer have a certain mechanical strength and plays a key role in inhibiting the growth of Li dendrites. As a result, the symmetric Li||Li cell with P(St-MaI)@Li layer can stably cycle for over 900 h under 1 mA cm⁻² without polarization voltage increasing, while their Li||LiFePO₄ full batteries maintain high capacity retention of 96 % after 930 cycles at 1C in carbonate electrolytes. The innovative strategy of artificial SEI is broadly applicable in designing new materials to inhibit Li dendrite growth on Li metal anodes.     

Electrolyte and interphase engineering through solvation structure regulation for stable lithium metal batteries

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) are considered to be one of the most promising high-energy-density battery systems. However, their practical application in carbonate electrolytes is hampered by lithium dendrite growth, resulting in short cycle life. Herein, an electrolyte regulation strategy is developed to improve the cyclability of LMBs in carbonate electrolytes by introducing LiNO₃ using trimethyl phosphate with a slightly higher donor number compared to NO₃⁻ as a solubilizer. This not only allows the formaion of Li⁺-coordinated NO₃⁻ but also achieves the regulation of electrolyte solvation structures, leading to the formation of robust and ion-conductive solid-electrolyte interphase films with inorganic-rich inner and organic-rich outer layers on the Li metal anodes. As a result, high Coulombic efficiency of 99.1% and stable plating/stripping cycling of Li metal anode in Li||Cu cells were realized. Furthermore, excellent performance was also demonstrated in Li||LiNi_0.83Co_0.11Mn_0.06O₂ (NCM83) full cells and Cu||NCM83 anode-free cells using high mass-loading cathodes. This work provides a simple interphase engineering strategy through regulating the electrolyte solvation structures for high-energy-density LMBs.     

Artificial Solid Electrolyte Interphase Acting as “Armor” to Protect the Anode Materials for High-performance Lithium-ion Battery

The electrochemical performances of lithium-ion batteries(LIBs) are closely related to the interphase between the electrode materials and electrolytes. However, the development of lithium-ion batteries is hampered by the formation of uncontrollable solid electrolyte interphase(SEI) and subsequent potential safety issues associated with dendritic formation and cell short-circuits during cycling. Fabricating artificial SEI layer can be one promising approach to solve the above issues. This review summarizes the principles and methods of fabricating artificial SEI for three types of main anodes:deposition-type(e.g., Li), intercalation-type(e.g., graphite) and alloy-type(e.g., Si, Al). The review elucidates recent progress and discusses possible methods for constructing stable artificial SEIs composed of salts, polymers, oxides, and nanomaterials that simultaneously passivate anode against side reactions with electrolytes and regulate Li⁺ ions transport at interfaces. Moreover, the reaction mechanism of artificial SEIs was briefly analyzed, and the research prospect was also discussed.