Expansion-Tolerant Lithium Anode with Built-In LiF-Rich Interface for Stable 400 Wh kg-1 Lithium Metal Pouch Cells

Lithium metal anodes hold great promise for enabling high-energy density devices compared with the commercialized graphite electrode. However, huge pressure changes during cycling will lead to the pulverization of the 2D lithium anode, thus deteriorating the battery life due to its poor mechanical strength. Herein we report a 3D lithium-boron (LiB) fibrous framework with great compressive strength through electrochemical delithiation. The LiB alloy fibers with a 3D stable structure play the role of an expansion-tolerant substrate, which could effectively hold the Li metal and reduce the internal pressure changes, showing only a 53.7% pressure change compared with the 2D Li/Cu-anode-based pouch cell. A quasi-ionic-liquid-based polymer electrolyte layer is introduced by a scalable tape-casting method, generating a LiF-rich layer inside the 3D Li anode through the reaction between the polymer electrolyte and the internal free Li, which can guide the uniform nucleation and growth of Li metal. As a result, the asymmetric Li-Li cell can sustain 5 mAh cm(-2) Li plating/ stripping for 1000 h. A 2.1 Ah pouch cell coupling to a LiF-rich interface-protected 3D Li/LiB anode and a Ni-rich cathode of 30 mg cm(-2) exhibits an ultrahigh energy density of 403 Wh kg(-1) and a stable cycle life of 100 cycles.

Automated summary

This study presents a three-dimensional lithium-boron (LiB) fibrous framework with high compressive strength for lithium metal anodes. The LiB alloy fibers serve as an expansion-tolerant substrate, effectively reducing internal pressure changes. Additionally, a quasi-ionic-liquid-based polymer electrolyte layer is introduced to promote the uniform nucleation and growth of lithium metal. The results demonstrate that this 3D LiB fibrous framework can achieve high energy density and stable cycle life.