Dendrite-free lithium–metal batteries at high rate realized using a composite solid electrolyte with an ester–PO4 complex and stable interphase

Abstract

Uneven growth of lithium dendrites and large volume expansion of Li–metal batteries based on a Li anode upon cycling cause low coulombic efficiency, fast capacity decay, and safety concerns. Herein, inspired by the hybrid concept we for the first time prepare a PCL–LAGP composite polymer electrolyte. The chemical interactions of PO₄³⁻ and ester groups are revealed through a detailed investigation. Given the synergistic effect of organic–inorganic hybrids, the composite electrolyte achieves dendrite-free Li deposition, which is confirmed by long-term galvanostatic polarization tests over 4 mA cm⁻² and in situ TEM observation of potentiostatic cycling. Moreover, the soft feature of PCL results in the formation of a stable interphase layer with low resistance to sustain the volume expansion. A LiFePO₄/Li all-solid-state battery demonstrates a high coulombic efficiency close to 100%, superior cycling stability and a rate capability of over 10C. The PCL–LAGP composite is a promising solid electrolyte for practical applications at high current density.