Themed collection Editor’s choice: Li-metal batteries

Professor Serena A. Cussen introduces Journal of Materials Chemistry A Editor's choice collection on Li-metal batteries.

Ionic liquids have further propelled the development of LMBs with their unique properties. In this review, the recent advances by regulating solvation and interfacial chemistry in IL-based electrolytes were systematically discussed.

The anode-free lithium metal battery is characterized by light weight, low cost, high-energy density, and high safety and shows great potential for the application of flexible devices.

The review focuses on the use of in situ/operando Raman spectroscopy to explore electrodes, solid electrolytes, and electrode–solid electrolyte interfaces in all-solid-state Li batteries.

Advanced machine learning force field enables accurate modeling of quantum and anharmonic effects in Li metal, revealing subtle phase equilibria among bcc-, fcc- and 9R-Li structures with implications for phase purity control in battery applications.

Novel mixed-metal Li_3−xY_1−xHf_xCl₆ has been subtly designed by doping engineering to achieve superionic halide conductors for all-solid-state lithium-metal based batteries.

PVDF-based electrolyte modified with Li-garnet and ferroelectric BaTiO₃ effectively suppresses dendrite growth and enables superior cycling stability of solid-state lithium batteries.

An adaptive polymer electrolyte is demonstrated through the incorporation of conducting polymer particles, which cause the film to expand under an electric field with potential for application as an interlayer in lithium metal solid-state batteries.

Antifluorite-like solid solutions in the LiCl–LiBr–Li₂S–Li₃N phase space combine high ionic conductivity with stability against reduction versus lithium metal, opening a promising avenue towards solid-state batteries with next-generation anodes.

Doping halogen elements into LGPS-structured sulfide solid electrolytes could address the instability in the ambient atmosphere and incompatibility with lithium metal, paving the way for the successful commercialization of solid-state batteries.

This work examines the thermodynamics, interfacial chemistry, and stiffness variations between Na and Li void and pit formation in metal batteries, with the goal of developing accurate descriptors and coatings for a stable battery.

A self-organizing, dual-modified interface for lithium metal anodes that significantly improves uniform lithium deposition and enhances electroplating/stripping performance.

This work presents a comparative study of six types of oxide and halide solid-state electrolytes. It has been demonstrated that the electrochemical stability not only depends on metal species, but alsk the Li content and other factors.

Methyl 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,4-nonafluorobutyl ether promotes the formation of a LiF-rich SEI and CEI with less HF, enabling high-voltage LMAs.

The study introduces novel asymmetric hydrofluoroether (HFE) designs, uncovers solvation-property relationships, and leverages molecular dynamics modeling for high-performance electrolytes in advanced lithium batteries.

Specific inorganic components (e.g., pure LiF-, Li₃N- and LiF/Li₃N composites) were obtained in solid electrolyte interphases (SEIs) for lithium metal batteries and synergistic functional mechanism of the LiF and Li₃N in SEIs were fully investigated.

An intimately riveted Li/garnet interface, where Li_4.4Si particles strongly bond with garnet, is constructed for dendrite-free solid-state lithium batteries.

A multi-scale model reveals that the microstructure of the Li metal anode can impact the performance of solid-state batteries. Micron-sized, columnar grains are preferred for minimizing void formation at the solid electrolyte interface.

The ionic conductivity of Li₄B₁₀H₁₀B₁₂H₁₂ exceeds that of its parent compounds Li₂B₁₀H₁₀ and Li₂B₁₂H₁₂ by several orders of magnitude. It is stable against lithium metal and has been incorporated into solid-state batteries.

Lithium electrodeposition analysis in 3D Cu micro-foams for use in ZELMBs reveals that large amounts of lithium are stored within the micro-foam's pore structure, limiting the growth of surface lithium structures and improving the battery cycle life.

LAGP solid electrolyte was successfully 3D printed by stereolithography, producing a corrugated shape, which reduced the area specific resistance and improved the durability during cycling.

Operando Auger using an e⁻ beam allows revealing the dynamics/morphology of Li/solid electrolyte interphase formation and Li plating with chemical information for a model Li/Li₆PS₅Cl stack. Comparison with operando XPS using an e⁻ beam was also performed.

LiF, which is considered as a key component of the solid electrolyte interface (SEI), can promote the uniform deposition of lithium.

Based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of symmetric Li/Na cells in contact with liquid electrolytes, we provide growth and ion transport models of the solid electrolyte interphase.

Density Functional Embedding Theory (DFET) unveils the mechanism of Vinylene Carbonate (VC) degradation at the Li metal surface.

A copolymer electrolyte containing 1,3-dioxolane and 1,3,5-trioxane units was synthesized through in situ polymerization and exhibits high ionic conductivity, a high lithium-ion transference number and stable cycling performance.

A novel solvate ionic liquid-derived solid polymer electrolyte was constructed for lithium metal batteries by incorporating a [Li(G₄)₁][TFSI] solution containing LiBOB as a functional additive into the PVDF-HFP matrix.