Ultrafine Silver Nanoparticles for Seeded Lithium Deposition toward Stable Lithium Metal Anode

Abstract

To exploit the high energy density of the lithium (Li) metal battery, it is imperative to address the dendrite growth and interface instability of the anode. 3D hosts for Li metal are expected to suppress the growth of Li dendrites. Heterogeneous seeds are effective in guiding Li deposition and realizing spatial control over Li nucleation. Herein, this study shows that ultrafine silver (Ag) nanoparticles, which are synthesized via a novel rapid Joule heating method, can serve as nanoseeds to direct the deposition of Li within the 3D host materials, resolving the problems of the Li metal anode. By optimizing the Joule heating method, ultrafine Ag nanoparticles (≈40 nm) are homogeneously anchored on carbon nanofibers. The Ag nanoseeds effectively reduce the nucleation overpotential of Li and guide the Li deposition in the 3D carbon matrix uniformly, free from the dendrites. A stable and reversible Li metal anode is achieved in virtue of the Ag nanoseeds in the 3D substrate, showing a low overpotential (≈0.025 V) for a long cycle life. The ultrafine nanoseeds achieved by rapid Joule heating render uniform deposition of Li metal anode in 3D hosts, promising a safe and long-life Li metal battery for high-energy applications.

Review—Li Metal Anode in Working Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

“…[144][145][146][147] However, this strategy loses 90% of the capacity contributing from Li metal anode and now cannot satisfy the urgent demand of high energy density devices. Exploring an efficient host for Li metal anode is quite crucial for a practical Li−S battery.…”

Structural Design of Lithium–Sulfur Batteries: From Fundamental Research to Practical Application

“…Reprinted with permission from Ref. [335], copyright 2017, Wiley-VCH. g Schematic of Li deposition and stripping processes with Cs + additive.…”

“…In Hu's study, as shown in Fig. 15f, they modified the commercial carbon nanofiber (CNF) with ultra-fine silver (Ag) nanoparticles on the surface via a rapid Joule heating method, which served as a selective substrate for Li deposition [335]. Coinciding well with Cui's results, there is no nucleation overpotential for Li deposition on the Ag/CNF substrate and Li prominently nucleates and grows on the Ag nanoseeds, resulting in a uniform Li film along the CNFs during Li platting.…”

Superlithiophilic Amorphous SiO2–TiO2 Distributed into Porous Carbon Skeleton Enabling Uniform Lithium Deposition for Stable Lithium Metal Batteries

“…[2,[6][7][8][9][10][11] However, even with the aid of these interfacial layers, uniform deposition is difficult as it is dependent on a plethora of external factors including ion diffusion, screw dislocation of atoms, and the morphology of the electrode surface. [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] This specific technique offers several advantages: [26] 1) the porous structure reduces the local current density and ensures sufficient Li ion flux; 2) the porous 3D skeleton accommodates the volumetric change of the Li anode during the plating and stripping progress; 3) Li is deposited on the interior of the 3D matrices, but not directly on the surface of the electrode, thus prohibiting dendrite growth. [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] This specific technique offers several advantages: [26] 1) the porous structure reduces the local current density and ensures sufficient Li ion flux; 2) the porous 3D skeleton accommodates the volumetric change of the Li anode during the plating and stripping progress; 3) Li is deposited on the interior of the 3D matrices, but not directly on the surface of the electrode, thus prohibiting dendrite growth.…”