Stable Li Metal Anodes via Regulating Lithium Plating/Stripping in Vertically Aligned Microchannels.
TL;DR: The Li anode with a porous Cu current collector achieves an enhanced cycle stability and a higher average Coulombic efficiency of 98.5% within 200 cycles, thus demonstrating promise as a current collector for high-energy-density, safe rechargeable Li batteries.
Abstract: Li anodes have been rapidly developed in recent years owing to the rising demand for higher-energy-density batteries. However, the safety issues induced by dendrites hinder the practical applications of Li anodes. Here, Li metal anodes stabilized by regulating lithium plating/stripping in vertically aligned microchannels are reported. The current density distribution and morphology evolution of the Li deposits on porous Cu current collectors are systematically analyzed. Based on simulations in COMSOL Multiphysics, the tip effect leads to preferential deposition on the microchannel walls, thus taking full advantage of the lightening rod theory of classical electromagnetism for restraining growth of Li dendrites. The Li anode with a porous Cu current collector achieves an enhanced cycle stability and a higher average Coulombic efficiency of 98.5% within 200 cycles. In addition, the resultant LiFePO4 /Li full battery demonstrates excellent rate capability and stable cycling performance, thus demonstrating promise as a current collector for high-energy-density, safe rechargeable Li batteries.
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TL;DR: Li metal anodes are well known to be one of the most promising anodes due to their ultra-high capacity (3,860 mAh g −1 ) and the very low standard negative electrochemical potential (−3.040 V) as discussed by the authors.
865 citations
727 citations
TL;DR: The current advances, existing limitations, along with the possible solutions in the pursuit of cathode materials with high voltage, fast kinetics, and long cycling stability are comprehensively covered and evaluated to guide the future design of aqueous ZIBs with a combination of high gravimetric energy density, good reversibility, and a long cycle life.
Abstract: Aqueous zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) are truly promising contenders for the future large-scale electrical energy storage applications due to their cost-effectiveness, environmental friendliness, intri...
726 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a coralloid silver-coated carbon fiber-based composite Li anode (CF/Ag-Li) through Ag electroplating and molten Li infusion was proposed, which exhibited high initial discharge capacity of 785 mAh g −1 and a large capacity retention rate after 400 cycles at 0.5C.
551 citations
TL;DR: This study shows that uniform Li nucleation/growth can be induced by an ultralight 3D current collector consisting of in situ nitrogen-doped graphitic carbon foams (NGCFs) to realize suppressing dendritic Li growth at the nucleating stage.
Abstract: The lithium metal anode has attracted soaring attention as an ideal battery anode. Unfortunately, nonuniform Li nucleation results in uncontrollable growth of dendritic Li, which incurs serious safety issues and poor electrochemical performance, hindering its practical applications. Herein, this study shows that uniform Li nucleation/growth can be induced by an ultralight 3D current collector consisting of in situ nitrogen-doped graphitic carbon foams (NGCFs) to realize suppressing dendritic Li growth at the nucleating stage. The N-containing functional groups guide homogenous growth of Li nucleus nanoparticles and the initial Li nucleus seed layer regulates the following well-distributed Li growth. Benefiting from such favorable Li growth behavior, superior electrochemical performance can be achieved as evidenced by the high Coulombic efficiency (≈99.6% for 300 cycles), large capacity (10 mA h cm-2 , 3140 mA h g-1NGCF-Li ), and ultralong lifespan (>1200 h) together with low overpotential (<25 mV at 3 mA cm-2 ); even under a high current density up to 10 mA cm-2 , it still displays low overpotential of 62 mV.
429 citations
References
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TL;DR: New strategies are needed for batteries that go beyond powering hand-held devices, such as using electrode hosts with two-electron redox centers; replacing the cathode hosts by materials that undergo displacement reactions; and developing a Li(+) solid electrolyte separator membrane that allows an organic and aqueous liquid electrolyte on the anode and cathode sides, respectively.
Abstract: Each cell of a battery stores electrical energy as chemical energy in two electrodes, a reductant (anode) and an oxidant (cathode), separated by an electrolyte that transfers the ionic component of the chemical reaction inside the cell and forces the electronic component outside the battery. The output on discharge is an external electronic current I at a voltage V for a time Δt. The chemical reaction of a rechargeable battery must be reversible on the application of a charging I and V. Critical parameters of a rechargeable battery are safety, density of energy that can be stored at a specific power input and retrieved at a specific power output, cycle and shelf life, storage efficiency, and cost of fabrication. Conventional ambient-temperature rechargeable batteries have solid electrodes and a liquid electrolyte. The positive electrode (cathode) consists of a host framework into which the mobile (working) cation is inserted reversibly over a finite solid–solution range. The solid–solution range, which is...
6,950 citations
TL;DR: The current understanding on Li anodes is summarized, the recent key progress in materials design and advanced characterization techniques are highlighted, and the opportunities and possible directions for future development ofLi anodes in applications are discussed.
Abstract: Lithium-ion batteries have had a profound impact on our daily life, but inherent limitations make it difficult for Li-ion chemistries to meet the growing demands for portable electronics, electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage. Therefore, chemistries beyond Li-ion are currently being investigated and need to be made viable for commercial applications. The use of metallic Li is one of the most favoured choices for next-generation Li batteries, especially Li-S and Li-air systems. After falling into oblivion for several decades because of safety concerns, metallic Li is now ready for a revival, thanks to the development of investigative tools and nanotechnology-based solutions. In this Review, we first summarize the current understanding on Li anodes, then highlight the recent key progress in materials design and advanced characterization techniques, and finally discuss the opportunities and possible directions for future development of Li anodes in applications.
4,302 citations
TL;DR: This work shows a novel mechanism that can fundamentally alter dendrite formation in lithium-ion batteries as well as other metal batteries and transform the surface uniformity of coatings deposited in many general electrodeposition processes.
Abstract: Rechargeable lithium metal batteries are considered the “Holy Grail” of energy storage systems. Unfortunately, uncontrollable dendritic lithium growth inherent in these batteries (upon repeated charge/discharge cycling) has prevented their practical application over the past 40 years. We show a novel mechanism that can fundamentally alter dendrite formation. At low concentrations, selected cations (such as cesium or rubidium ions) exhibit an effective reduction potential below the standard reduction potential of lithium ions. During lithium deposition, these additive cations form a positively charged electrostatic shield around the initial growth tip of the protuberances without reduction and deposition of the additives. This forces further deposition of lithium to adjacent regions of the anode and eliminates dendrite formation in lithium metal batteries. This strategy may also prevent dendrite growth in lithium-ion batteries as well as other metal batteries and transform the surface uniformity of coating...
1,637 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that coating the lithium metal anode with a monolayer of interconnected amorphous hollow carbon nanospheres helps isolate the lithiumMetal depositions and facilitates the formation of a stable solid electrolyte interphase, indicating that nanoscale interfacial engineering could be a promising strategy to tackle the intrinsic problems of lithiumMetal anode cycling.
Abstract: For future applications in portable electronics, electric vehicles and grid storage, batteries with higher energy storage density than existing lithium ion batteries need to be developed. Recent efforts in this direction have focused on highcapacity electrode materials such as lithium metal, silicon and tin as anodes, and sulphur and oxygen as cathodes. Lithium metal would be the optimal choice as an anode material, because it has the highest specific capacity (3,860 mAh g –1 )a nd the lowest anode potential of all. However, the lithium anode forms dendritic and mossy metal deposits, leading to serious safety concerns and low Coulombic efficiency during charge/discharge cycles. Although advanced characterization techniques have helped shed light on the lithium growth process, effective strategies to improve lithium metal anode cycling remain elusive. Here, we show that coating the lithium metal anode with a monolayer of interconnected amorphous hollow carbon nanospheres helps isolate the lithium metal depositions and facilitates the formation of a stable solid electrolyte interphase. We show that lithium dendrites do not form up to a practical current density of 1 mA cm –2 .T he Coulombic efficiency improves to ∼99% for more than 150 cycles. This is significantly better than the bare unmodified samples, which usually show rapid Coulombic efficiency decay in fewer than 100 cycles. Our results indicate that nanoscale interfacial engineering could be a promising strategy to tackle the intrinsic problems of lithium metal anodes.
1,465 citations
TL;DR: Experimental and computational results reveal that the oxide coating enables wetting of metallic lithium in contact with the garnet electrolyte surface and the lithiated-alumina interface allows effective lithium ion transport between the lithium metal anode and garnets electrolyte.
Abstract: Garnet-type solid-state electrolytes have attracted extensive attention due to their high ionic conductivity, approaching 1 mS cm-1, excellent environmental stability, and wide electrochemical stability window, from lithium metal to ∼6 V. However, to date, there has been little success in the development of high-performance solid-state batteries using these exceptional materials, the major challenge being the high solid-solid interfacial impedance between the garnet electrolyte and electrode materials. In this work, we effectively address the large interfacial impedance between a lithium metal anode and the garnet electrolyte using ultrathin aluminium oxide (Al2O3) by atomic layer deposition. Li7La2.75Ca0.25Zr1.75Nb0.25O12 (LLCZN) is the garnet composition of choice in this work due to its reduced sintering temperature and increased lithium ion conductivity. A significant decrease of interfacial impedance, from 1,710 Ω cm2 to 1 Ω cm2, was observed at room temperature, effectively negating the lithium metal/garnet interfacial impedance. Experimental and computational results reveal that the oxide coating enables wetting of metallic lithium in contact with the garnet electrolyte surface and the lithiated-alumina interface allows effective lithium ion transport between the lithium metal anode and garnet electrolyte. We also demonstrate a working cell with a lithium metal anode, garnet electrolyte and a high-voltage cathode by applying the newly developed interface chemistry.
1,443 citations