Dendrite-free and air-stable lithium metal batteries enabled by electroless plating with aluminum fluoride

Abstract

Lithium metal, as an ideal anode material for rechargeable and high energy density batteries, suffers from the inherent limitation of sensitivity to dendrite growth and a humid atmosphere. Here, a bifunctional composite interphase is designed to settle these issues. The interphase which is generated on the surface of Li foil through electroless plating with a solution of aluminum fluoride can guide uniform Li plating/stripping behaviors with reduced overpotential and simultaneously improve moisture resistance. Owing to the unique features, the assembled cells with the protected anode and a LiFePO₄ cathode exhibit long cycle life (>300 cycles) with an extraordinary capacity retention (>95%). Further, even if the protected anodes are exposed to humid air (25% relative humidity) for over 24 h, the cells still achieve outstanding performance, comparable to that without exposure. This work thus provides a promising approach towards dendrite-free and air-stable lithium metal batteries.