The lithium metal battery is strongly considered to be one of the most promising candidates for high-energy-density energy storage devices in our modern and technology-based society. However, uncontrollable lithium dendrite growth induces poor cycling efficiency and severe safety concerns, dragging lithium metal batteries out of practical applications. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the lithium metal anode and its dendritic lithium growth. First, the working principles and technical challenges of a lithium metal anode are underscored. Specific attention is paid to the mechanistic understandings and quantitative models for solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation, lithium dendrite nucleation, and growth. On the basis of previous theoretical understanding and analysis, recently proposed strategies to suppress dendrite growth of lithium metal anode and some other metal anodes are reviewed. A section dedicated to the potential of full-cell lithium metal batteries for practical applicatio...

Toward Safe Lithium Metal Anode in Rechargeable Batteries: A Review.

Nanoporous CaCO3 Coatings Enabled Uniform Zn Stripping/Plating for Long-Life Zinc Rechargeable Aqueous Batteries

As a new class of crystalline porous materials, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have received great attention owing to their unique advantages of ultrahigh surface area, large pore volume and versatile applications. Developing different strategies to control the morphology and size of MOFs is very important for their practical applications. Recently, micro/nanosized MOFs have been regarded as promising candidates for electrode materials with excellent performances, which not only bridge the gap between fundamental MOF science and forward-looking applications, but also provide an opportunity to make clear the relationship between morphologies and properties. This review focuses on the design and fabrication of one-, two- and three-dimensional MOFs at micro/nanoscale, and their direct applications in batteries, supercapacitors and electrocatalysis. A discussion on challenges and future prospects of the synthesis and electrochemical applications of micro/nanoscaled MOF materials is presented.

Synthesis of micro/nanoscaled metal-organic frameworks and their direct electrochemical applications.

Safe and rechargeable lithium metal batteries have been difficult to achieve because of the formation of lithium dendrites. Herein an emerging electrolyte based on a simple solvation strategy is proposed for highly stable lithium metal anodes in both coin and pouch cells. Fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) and lithium nitrate (LiNO3) were concurrently introduced into an electrolyte, thus altering the solvation sheath of lithium ions, and forming a uniform solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), with an abundance of LiF and LiNxOy on a working lithium metal anode with dendrite-free lithium deposition. Ultrahigh Coulombic efficiency (99.96 %) and long lifespans (1000 cycles) were achieved when the FEC/LiNO3 electrolyte was applied in working batteries. The solvation chemistry of electrolyte was further explored by molecular dynamics simulations and first-principles calculations. This work provides insight into understanding the critical role of the solvation of lithium ions in forming the SEI and delivering an effective route to optimize electrolytes for safe lithium metal batteries.

Highly Stable Lithium Metal Batteries Enabled by Regulating the Solvation of Lithium Ions in Nonaqueous Electrolytes

Artificial Soft–Rigid Protective Layer for Dendrite-Free Lithium Metal Anode

The use of a rechargeable Li metal anode is one of the most favored choices for next-generation high energy density lithium batteries. Unfortunately, the growth of lithium dendrites during recharging hinders the practical application of Li metal anodes. Herein, we report a new biomimetic ionogel electrolyte with ant-nest architecture by the confinement of an ionic liquid within a chemically modified SiO2 scaffold for promoting the dendrite-free stripping/plating of Li anodes. The biomimetic ant-nest architecture not only has high ionic conductivity, but can also effectively restrain the Li dendrite growth by the spontaneous formation of a particle-rich protective layer on the lithium electrode during charge/discharge cycling. The solid-state full cells with LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 exhibit a very high energy density of ca. 390 W h kg−1. The as-prepared Li/Li4Ti5O12 full cells present excellent cycling stability up to 3000 cycles with excellent Coulombic efficiencies of >99.8%. The present work opens a new route for the use of the biomimetic concept for designing a new ant-nest ionogel electrolyte for developing high energy density Li metal batteries with high stability.

Lili Wang

Papers

Biomimetic ant-nest ionogel electrolyte boosts the performance of dendrite-free lithium batteries

Development and Challenges of Functional Electrolytes for High-Performance Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Protecting lithium/sodium metal anode with metal-organic framework based compact and robust shield

Organically modified silica-supported ionogels electrolyte for high temperature lithium-ion batteries

“Tai Chi” philosophy driven rigid-flexible hybrid ionogel electrolyte for high-performance lithium battery