Self-healing single-ion-conductive artificial polymeric solid electrolyte interphases for stable lithium metal anodes

Unstable solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer, accompanied with detrimental Li dendrite growth, is the major challenge for realizing viable Li metal batteries. Herein, we report a self-healing and single-ion conductive artificial SEI (SS-ASEI) layer to stabilize Li metal anode, suppress the Li dendrite growth and promote the Li plating/stripping kinetics. The polymeric SS-ASEI layer is optimized to be dynamically cross-linked poly(dimethylsiloxane) filled with 7 wt% SiO2 nanoparticles. The modified Li symmetric cell achieves extremely stable plating/stripping cycling for 1340 h at 0.5 mA cm(-2) and 1.0 mAh cm(-2) cutting-off capacity. Superior rate capability and cycling stability of the modified anode are also demonstrated in cells with commercial NCM811 (LiNi(0.8)Co(0.)1Mn(0.1)O(2)) cathode. The self-healing ability, elastic deformation capability, selectively high Li-ion conductivity and low liquid electrolyte swelling rate of our 55-ASEI layer synergistically account for the superior performances of modified Li electrode over the bare Li electrode.

Automated summary

In this study, a self-healing and single-ion conductive artificial SEI layer was developed to stabilize Li metal batteries. By optimizing the polymeric SS-ASEI layer, extremely stable cycling performance and rate capability were achieved.