A Facile Surface Preservation Strategy for the Lithium Anode for High-Performance Li–O₂ Batteries

Abstract

Protecting an anode from deterioration during charging/discharging has been seen as one of the key strategies in achieving high-performance lithium (Li)−O 2 batteries and other Li−metal batteries with a high energy density. Here, we describe a facile approach to prevent the Li anode from dendritic growth and chemical corrosion by constructing a SiO 2 /GO hybrid thin layer on the surface. The uniform pore-preserving layer can conduct Li ions in the stripping/plating process, leading to an effective alleviation of the dendritic growth of Li by guiding the ion flux through the microstructure. Such a preservation technique significantly enhances the cell performance by enabling the Li− O 2 cell to cycle up to 348 times at 1 A•g −1 with a capacity of 1000 mA•h•g −1 , which is several times the cycles of cells with pristine Li (58 cycles), Li−GO (166 cycles), and Li−SiO 2 (187 cycles). Moreover, the rate performance is improved, and the ultimate capacity of the cell is dramatically increased from 5400 to 25,200 mA•h•g −1 . This facile technology is robust and conforms to the Li surface, which demonstrates its potential applications in developing future high-performance and long lifespan Li batteries in a cost-effective fashion.

Regulating Dendrite-Free Zn Deposition by a Self-Assembled OH-Terminated SiO2 Nanosphere Layer toward a Zn Metal Anode

“…A lithium-ion battery (LIB) is currently a major energy storage device, while the safety concerns and high costs necessitate the research on next-generation rechargeable batteries to complement the use of LIBs. − An aqueous Zn-ion battery (ZIB) is regarded as a promising rechargeable battery system due to the use of safe aqueous electrolytes and the ease of assembly. In addition, Zn metal (being used directly as the ZIB anode) exhibits a high theoretical volumetric capacity of 5854 mA h cm –3 , high abundance, and a low redox potential (−0.76 V vs standard hydrogen electrode), which further increases the appeal of ZIB in practical applications. ,− Despite these advantages that the direct use of Zn metal as the anode can bring, it remains to be plagued with several limitations.…”

Recent progress in quantum dots based nanocomposite electrodes for rechargeable monovalent metal-ion and lithium metal batteries

“…257,258 Therefore, protecting the Li-metal anode from deterioration and/or alleviation of the dendrite growth during cell operation is the key to achieve long cycling performance and safe cell operation. 259…”

Strategies toward anode stabilization in nonaqueous alkali metal–oxygen batteries

“…Apart from the approaches discussed above, the graphene layer, 57 hole-preserving layer, 58 superhydrophobic hydrogel-derived hierarchical porous carbon (HDHPC) layer, 59 nano-scale zircone layer, 60 nano-polymer protective coating 61 and gradient inorganic–organic polyurea (PU) coating 62 have also been proposed as a physical/chemical barrier against O 2 to stabilize the metal anodes.…”