Tuning Interface Mechanics Via β-Configuration Dominant Amyloid Aggregates for Lithium Metal Batteries

Abstract

Owing to abundant polar groups and good lithiophilicity, protein materials regain interest for application in lithium metal batteries (LMBs). Current proteins with an αconformation for modifying lithium (Li) anodes possess typically poor mechanical properties, and there is therefore a significant need for advanced protein materials. Herein, a lysozyme-modified layer is coated onto the poly(vinylidene fluoride) electrospun mat for high mechanical strength and uniform Li-ion flux. The lysozyme membrane can regulate Li + deposition behavior due to complete β-sheet configuration, high lithiophilicity sulfhydryl groups, and columnar nanopores. As a result, the lysozyme-modified Li metal anode exhibits a high stability performance of Li−Li symmetric cells (2800 h) and Li-LiFePO 4 full cell (1450 cycles). Our strategy pushes the protein with β-sheet configuration toward the applications of next-generation LMBs.

Gradient Host for Bottom-Up Deposition of Lithium Metal Anode

“…In short, the lithiophilic host can usually induce homogeneous Li nucleation, which will become the “seed” and play a decisive role in uniform Li deposition. As a result, by modifying the lithiophilicity of the host surface, the Li deposition behavior of the LMBs can be steered during Li plating, resulting in uniform Li deposition and decreased Li dendrite formation. , This section will go into extensive detail of the lithiophilicity of anode hosts for LMBs. Cui and co-workers acknowledged that a uniform dispersion of Li + flux is required to prevent the formation of Li dendrites.…”

“…As a result, by modifying the lithiophilicity of the host surface, the Li deposition behavior of the LMBs can be steered during Li plating, resulting in uniform Li deposition and decreased Li dendrite formation. 94,95 This section will go into extensive detail of the lithiophilicity of anode hosts for LMBs. Cui and co-workers 96 functional groups on the surface of the polymer nanofibers as the lithiophilic sites and then applied the designed Cu-oxidized polyacrylonitrile hosts to the LMBs (Figure 4a).…”

Biomass Separators as a “Lifesaver” for Safe and Long‐Life Lithium Metal Batteries

“…The lithium metal battery assembled by this separator can be cycled stably for 1000 h (1 mA cm À 2 ,1 mA h cm À 2 ) (Figure 7c). Liang et al [63] prepared the PVDF/lysozyme separator and according to nanoindentation technology, the elastic modulus and hardness were kept at 0.54 and 31.88 GPa, respectively. High mechanical strength effectively inhibits lithium dendrites' growth.…”

“…LiÀ Li symmetric batteries assembled by SF-PVA can run steadily for more than 6000 hours (0.5 mA cm À 2 , 1 mA h cm À 2 ) (Figure 8g). The separator material prepared by Liang et al [63] with polyvinylidene fluoride electrospun mat surface coated with lysozyme protein coating also possessed a pore structure, and the dimensions of the lysozyme film's pores were determined by synchrotron Small-angle X-ray scattering (SR-SAXS), yielding a micro-pore radius and spin back radius of 4.52 nm and 6.81 nm, respectively, with a cylindrical pore structure. Lithium ions were uniformly deposited thanks to the pore structure, which also prevented lithium dendrite formation.…”

SAXS unveils porous anodes for potassium-ion batteries: dynamic evolution of pore structures in Fe@Fe2O3/PCNFs composite nanofibers

“…Due to the high-quality light source with a continuous spectrum, high intensity and collimation, synchrotron small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) was confirmed to be an advanced technique to explore the microscopic dynamic structure of matter and the processes of various transients. 44 Our group has recently 45 used SAXS to characterize the pore structure information of protein separators in batteries and explored the inhibition mechanism of separators. Based on our previous experience, 46 we believed that characterizing the dynamic evolution of pore structures in ion battery electrodes during the charge/discharge process via the synchrotron radiation technique could demonstrate electrochemical performance's connections with pore structure systematically.…”