Lithiophilic Sites in Doped Graphene Guide Uniform Lithium Nucleation for Dendrite‐Free Lithium Metal Anodes

Lithium (Li) metal is the most promising electrode for next‐generation rechargeable batteries. However, the challenges induced by Li dendrites on a working Li metal anode hinder the practical applications of Li metal batteries. Herein, nitrogen (N) doped graphene was adopted as the Li plating matrix to regulate Li metal nucleation and suppress dendrite growth. The N‐containing functional groups, such as pyridinic and pyrrolic nitrogen in the N‐doped graphene, are lithiophilic, which guide the metallic Li nucleation causing the metal to distribute uniformly on the anode surface. As a result, the N‐doped graphene modified Li metal anode exhibits a dendrite‐free morphology during repeated Li plating and demonstrates a high Coulombic efficiency of 98 % for near 200 cycles.     

Columnar Lithium Metal Anodes

The rechargeable lithium metal anode is of utmost importance for high‐energy‐density batteries. Regulating the deposition/dissolution characteristics of Li metal is critical in both fundamental researches and practical applications. In contrast to gray Li deposits featured with dendritic and mossy morphologies, columnar and uniform Li is herein plated on lithium‐fluoride (LiF)‐protected copper (Cu) current collectors. The electrochemical properties strongly depended on the microscale morphologies of deposited Li, which were further embodied as macroscale colors. The as‐obtained ultrathin and columnar Li anodes contributed to stable cycling in working batteries with a dendrite‐free feature. This work deepens the fundamental understanding of the role of LiF in the nucleation/growth of Li and provides emerging approaches to stabilize rechargeable Li metal anodes.     

Columnar Lithium Metal Anodes

The rechargeable lithium metal anode is of utmost importance for high‐energy‐density batteries. Regulating the deposition/dissolution characteristics of Li metal is critical in both fundamental researches and practical applications. In contrast to gray Li deposits featured with dendritic and mossy morphologies, columnar and uniform Li is herein plated on lithium‐fluoride (LiF)‐protected copper (Cu) current collectors. The electrochemical properties strongly depended on the microscale morphologies of deposited Li, which were further embodied as macroscale colors. The as‐obtained ultrathin and columnar Li anodes contributed to stable cycling in working batteries with a dendrite‐free feature. This work deepens the fundamental understanding of the role of LiF in the nucleation/growth of Li and provides emerging approaches to stabilize rechargeable Li metal anodes.     

锂金属电池中的复合负极

锂金属具有理论比容量高、电位低等优点,被认为是电极中的“圣杯”。然而,锂金属负极在循环过程当中存在着不可控的枝晶生长、体积膨胀等问题,严重地阻碍了锂金属电池的商业化进程。本综述首先概述了锂枝晶的形成机理,然后对由小及大,自内而外,总结了近年来三种不同层次的锂金属电池复合负极:锂金属负极内部结构的复合、锂金属电池内部结构的复合以及锂金属电池内部环境与外界操作条件的复合。最后,本综述对未来多层次锂金属电池复合负极的前景做出了展望。     

A Sustainable Solid Electrolyte Interphase for High-Energy-Density Lithium Metal Batteries Under Practical Conditions

High-energy-density Li metal batteries suffer from a short lifespan under practical conditions, such as limited lithium, high loading cathode, and lean electrolytes, owing to the absence of appropriate solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). Herein, a sustainable SEI was designed rationally by combining fluorinated co-solvents with sustained-release additives for practical challenges. The intrinsic uniformity of SEI and the constant supplements of building blocks of SEI jointly afford to sustainable SEI. Specific spatial distributions and abundant heterogeneous grain boundaries of LiF, LiN_xO_y, and Li₂O effectively regulate uniformity of Li deposition. In a Li metal battery with an ultrathin Li anode (33 μm), a high-loading LiNi_0.5Co_0.2Mn_0.3O₂ cathode (4.4 mAh cm⁻²), and lean electrolytes (6.1 g Ah⁻¹), 83 % of initial capacity retains after 150 cycles. A pouch cell (3.5 Ah) demonstrated a specific energy of 340 Wh kg⁻¹ for 60 cycles with lean electrolytes (2.3 g Ah⁻¹).     

Advances in Artificial Layers for Stable Lithium Metal Anodes

Lithium (Li) metal is considered as the most promising anode material for rechargeable high-energy batteries. Nevertheless, the practical implement of Li anodes is significantly hindered by the growth of Li dendrites, which can cause severe safety issues. To inhibit the formation of Li dendrites, coating an artificial layer on the Li metal anode has been shown to be a facile and effective approach. This review mainly focuses on recent advances in artificial layers for stable Li metal anodes. It summarizes the progress in this area and discusses the different types of artificial layers according to their mechanisms for Li dendrite inhibition, including regulation of uniform deposition of Li metal and suppression of Li dendrite growth. By doing this, it is hoped that this contribution will provide instructional guidance for the future design of new artificial layers.     

基于聚苯乙烯磺酸的锂金属负极界面保护层的设计

将聚苯乙烯磺酸(PSS)进行锂化处理后, 涂覆在锂箔表面, 在锂金属表面构筑一层均匀的聚苯乙烯磺酸锂(PSSLi)界面保护层, 形成PSSLi@Li复合电极. 通过红外光谱(FTIR)、 电化学阻抗谱(EIS)、 电池性能分析和有限元多物理场仿真模拟等方法, 对该复合电极进行了结构和性能研究. 结果表明, PSSLi界面保护层能有效地避免电解液与锂金属的直接接触, 抑制了“死锂”和锂枝晶的生成. 聚苯乙烯磺酸锂具有整齐排布的磺酸基团, 为锂离子提供了稳定的传输通道, 能够均匀化锂离子的迁移速率, 调节锂离子在电极表面的浓度分布, 并实现均匀的锂金属沉积/剥离. 电化学实验数据表明, 将该PSSLi界面层涂覆在铜箔表面进行库仑效率测试, 循环 350次实验后仍然能够保持在99.5%以上; 利用PSSLi@Li复合电极组装形成的对称电池, 在1 mA/cm²的电流密度、 1 mA·h/cm²的面积容量下, 能够稳定循环1200 h以上; PSSLi@Li与磷酸铁锂正极材料组装的全电池, 在1C倍率下循环500次后, 仍具有115 mA·h/g的容量, 容量保持率可达81%以上; 在8C的高倍率下, 该电池的容量可达到105 mA·h/g.     

热压法构筑锂负极聚偏氟乙烯基双功能保护层的研究

锂金属具有高比容量(3860 mA·h/g)和低电化学电位(-3.04 V vs. SHE), 是一种极具潜力的新型电池负极材料. 然而, 锂金属电化学稳定性差, 导致电池循环寿命受限, 容易产生枝晶, 造成电池短路, 引发安全风险, 而其对空气及环境的高度敏感性也极大增加了电池制作的难度与成本, 限制了其应用推广. 改善锂金属负极的界面稳定性被认为是提升锂金属电池性能的重要途径. 本文通过简单直接的热压法在锂金属负极表面构筑了聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF)基双功能保护层, 使锂金属的空气稳定性提升至约120 min, 并延长了锂金属对称电池的循环寿命至约1200 h; 再通过在PVDF保护层内引入亲锂的SnO₂粒子, 形成的无机有机复合保护层可以通过原位合金化反应提供锂沉积的形核位点, 在保持良好循环稳定性的基础上进一步降低成锂沉积的过电位, 极化过电位从0.016 V降低到0.007 V. 含有该保护层的全电池展现出约200次的长循环寿命与90%以上的高容量保持率, 在3C高倍率下放电比容量仍达127 mA·h/g. 提出的双功能电极界面保护层策略能有效提升锂金属负极空气稳定性和电化学性能.     

追踪锂金属负极的压力与形貌变化（英文）

采用高载量氧化物正极(>4mAh·cm^-2)和超薄锂金属负极(<50μm)可以构建高比能锂金属二次电池。然而,该类电池的循环寿命和安全性受到锂金属不可控沉积的严重制约。高比表面积的锂枝晶和锂“苔藓”导致了较低的库伦效率,前者有一定可能穿刺隔膜,造成电池内短路,是亟待解决的安全隐患。因此,提升锂金属二次电池的循环寿命和安全性的关键在于实现锂金属的致密沉积。文献中已有多种化学方法可达到这样的效果。由于锂金属较软,受力容易发生形变,对锂金属电池施加机械压力是另一种促进锂金属致密沉积和提高循环性能的方法。然而,机械压力、锂金属形态的演变、和循环性能之间的关系尚未被完全理解。本文报道了一种基于薄膜压力传感器的电池压力测量装置,可以实时跟踪纽扣型锂金属电池内部的压力变化,并且探究外加机械压力对电池循环性能的影响。研究发现,在纽扣电池和高比能的软包电池(5 Ah,>380 Wh·kg^-1)中,一定程度的压力可以促进锂金属的致密沉积,改善电池循环性能;而过大的压力则会导致锂金属向负极内部沉积,造成负极变形和电池性能恶化。我们的研究结果凸显了...     

Regulating Interfacial Lithium Ion by Artificial Protective Overlayers for High-Performance Lithium Metal Anodes

The main limitation of lithium (Li) metal anodes lies in their severe dendrite growth due to nonuniform Li⁺ flux and sluggish Li⁺ transportation at the anode surface. Fabricating artificial protective overlayer with tunable surficial properties on Li metal is a precise and effective strategy to relieve this problem. In this Concept article, we focus on the basic principles of regulating interfacial Li⁺ through artificial protective overlayers and summarize the material preparation as well as structural design of these overlayers. The remaining challenges and promising directions of artificial protective overlayers are then highlighted to provide clues for the practical application of Li metal anodes.     

Lithiophilic Sites in Doped Graphene Guide Uniform Lithium Nucleation for Dendrite-Free Lithium Metal Anodes

Lithium (Li) metal is the most promising electrode for next-generation rechargeable batteries. However, the challenges induced by Li dendrites on a working Li metal anode hinder the practical applications of Li metal batteries. Herein, nitrogen (N) doped graphene was adopted as the Li plating matrix to regulate Li metal nucleation and suppress dendrite growth. The N-containing functional groups, such as pyridinic and pyrrolic nitrogen in the N-doped graphene, are lithiophilic, which guide the metallic Li nucleation causing the metal to distribute uniformly on the anode surface. As a result, the N-doped graphene modified Li metal anode exhibits a dendrite-free morphology during repeated Li plating and demonstrates a high Coulombic efficiency of 98 % for near 200 cycles.     

多孔聚合物在锂金属负极保护中的研究进展

锂金属负极具有极高的理论比容量和最低的还原电位,因此锂金属电池被认为是最具潜力的高比能储能器件之一.然而,充放电过程中不受控制的枝晶生长、不稳定的界面反应与巨大的体积变化导致锂金属负极库伦效率低与循环稳定性差,同时枝晶刺穿隔膜也会带来安全隐患,这些问题极大地制约着锂金属电池的实际应用.多孔聚合物由于比表面积大、密度低、...     

中子深度剖析技术研究可充锂金属负极

可充锂金属负极严重的界面不稳定性和安全问题极大限制了其商业化应用,对于锂的沉积/溶出行为以及锂枝晶的成核生长机理的清楚认识将有利于更高效的可充锂金属负极改性研究。然而,由于锂金属的高反应活性所带来的产物复杂性及其形貌多样性给原位谱学表征带来了诸多的困难。中子深度剖析(Neutron Depth Profiling,NDP)技术由于其高穿透特性、定量非破坏性、且对锂的高灵敏性,在实时研究锂金属电池中锂的电化学行为上显示出广阔的应用前景。本文首先简要介绍了NDP技术的测试原理及提高其空间/时间分辨率的方法,同时总结分析了近年来NDP技术在液态/固态电池体系中锂金属负极研究的应用,并展望了NDP技术今后的发展前景。     

多空间尺度下的金属锂负极表征技术

金属锂因为其优秀的特性被认为是未来锂电池负极的最终之选。然而目前金属锂负极在旧有液态体系中的研究陷入瓶颈,在新兴固态体系中的挑战层出不穷。想要实现金属锂负极的实用化,必须加深对金属锂负极基础科学问题的认识。本文系统论述了多空间尺度下金属锂的电极行为与对应的表征技术。首先综述了多空间尺度下金属锂负极的基础科学和应用技术问题,结合近年来的工作,对全空间尺度下的先进表征手段做了梳理,分析了从原子级到宏观尺度各种表征手段的技术特点,并重点讨论了各类表征技术在研究固态体系中金属锂负极时的特点与可能的发展方向。     

锂金属负极人造保护膜的研究进展

金属锂因其具有极高的理论容量(3860 mAh·g^?1)、最低的电极电位(?3.04 V vs.标准氢电极)和低的密度(0.534 g·cm^?3),被认为是最具潜力的负极材料。但循环过程中不可控的枝晶生长及不稳定的固体电解质相界面膜所引起的安全隐患和电池库伦效率低等问题严重阻碍了锂金属负极的发展。通过在电极表面构建人造保护膜可以有效调控锂离子沉积行为,因此人造保护膜的构建是一种简单高效抑制锂枝晶生长的策略。本综述将从聚合物保护膜、无机保护膜、有机-无机复合保护膜和合金保护膜总结了人造保护膜的构建方法、抑制锂枝晶生长机理,为促进高比能锂金属电池的商业化应用提供借鉴参考作用。     

计算模拟在锂金属负极研究中的应用

锂金属以其高比容量和低电极电势,在高能量密度电池领域具有极大潜力,然而界面反应复杂、枝晶生长难以抑制等问题,导致电池易燃易爆、容易击穿短路,极大地限制了锂电池的应用。计算模拟有助于科研工作者认识反应机理、预测筛选电极材料以及优化电池设计,与实验相辅相成。本文对近年计算模拟在锂金属电极中的应用进行综述,重点在于利用分子动力学、第一性原理计算等计算方法,研究界面反应、固体电解质膜以及锂形核。此外,新开发的固态电解质很好地解决了传统锂电池易燃易爆等问题,提高了能量密度,但也存在界面阻力大、传导性能差以及枝晶生长等问题,对此,我们就计算模拟在固态电解质锂电池中锂负极的应用进行综述。最后,我们论述了该领域潜在研究方向。