Polymer Electrolyte Film as Robust and Deformable Artificial Protective Layer for High-Performance Lithium Metal Anode

Abstract

Lithium (Li) metal anode is a promising candidate for next-generation high capacity energy storage systems. Unfortunately, the uneven deposition/dissolution of Li metal hinders its wide applications. Herein, a robust and deformable polymer electrolyte film as the advanced protective layer on Li metal is developed by a simple tape-casting method, in which the polymer endows a comfortable interfacial contact as well as membrane flexibility to adapt the volume change, while the coordination between the polymer and Li salt provides fast Li + ion diffusion channels. The modified Li metal anodes deliver a stable cycling over 1000 cycles under a high current density of 3 mA cm −2 in the ether-based electrolyte. The enhanced cycling performance at high current densities are mainly attributed to the Li plating occurred beneath the ion-conducting protective layer, which facilitates Li + ion uniform distribution and further suppresses Li dendrite growth. Accordingly, constructing a polymer electrolyte protective film onto the Li metal anodes is a facile and low-cost methodology to drive the Li metal anode toward practical application.

Polymers in Lithium‐Ion and Lithium Metal Batteries

“…For example, the smooth surface of SEI or Li dendrites on anodes before or after battery cycling can be directly imaged via SEM. [ 152 ]…”

Structure Code for Advanced Polymer Electrolyte in Lithium‐Ion Batteries

“…prepared a robust and deformable polymer layer based on poly(ethylene vinyl alcohol‐β‐acrylonitrile ether) (EVOH‐β‐OCH 2 CH 2 CN). [ 253 ] Further doping of this polymer film with lithium salts improved its ionic conductivity and resulted in good mechanical properties and volume conformability, suggesting that it can significantly inhibit the growth of lithium dendrites and improve the cycle stability of the battery.…”

Artificial Single-Ion Conducting Polymer Solid Electrolyte Interphase Layer toward Highly Stable Lithium Anode

“…Especially, the more stable and efficient artificial SEI layers with well-designed structure and component for protecting Li anode were positively applied. Although varieties of artificial SEI layers composed of inorganics (LiF, 17−20 Li 3 PO 4 , 21,22 Al 2 O 3 , 23 and Li 2 S 15,24 ), organics ([LiNBH] n , 10 LP, 12 LiPLA, 13 LiPAA, 25 APL, 26 PVDF, 27 COF-Li, 28 and LFPP-SEI 29 ), and organic− inorganic hybrids (LiF/LiSb@SBR, 30 EBC-LiTFSI, 31 PECA/ LiNO 3 , 32 and SiO 2 @PMMA 33 ) prepared via various casting methods have been reported, it is hard to fabricate an ideal artificial SEI layer which may possess the following desired comprehensive features: Li). First, LiSTFSI (0.5 mmol), PTMP (0.25 mmol), and DMPA (0.025 mmol) were mixed in GBL (3 mL) under ultraviolet (UV) light reacting for 10 min to get homogeneous solution A.…”