All-Climate and Ultrastable Dual-Ion Batteries with Long Life Achieved via Synergistic Enhancement of Cathode and Anode Interfaces

Dual-ion batteries (DIBs) are a viable option for large-scale energy storage owing to their high energy density, low cost, and environmental friendliness. However, interfacial instability at both the cathode and anode in Li-graphite DIBs (LG-DIBs) contributes to poor cycling performance and failed energy storage, severely limiting their application potentials. Herein, a two-pronged strategy is used to improve the interfacial stability, synergistically stabilizing the graphite cathode by applying a rigid/inert surface coating while building a 3D framework on the lithium anode. The resultant LG-DIBs are ultrastable and achieve a long cycle life (capacity retention of 80% after 2700 cycles at 200 mA(-1)) in the all-climate temperature range from -25 to 40 degrees C. Ex situ characterization reveals that the cathode-electrolyte interphase on graphite is stabilized by suppressing the electrolyte decomposition and reducing graphite exfoliation. Simultaneously, the framework constructed on the lithium anode induces uniform and dendrite-free Li deposition owing to its 3D structure. This study not only contributes to the development of practical LG-DIBs but also points out a promising research direction for other new types of batteries.

Automated summary

Dual-ion batteries have the potential to be used for large-scale energy storage due to their high energy density, low cost, and environmental friendliness. In this study, a two-pronged strategy is used to improve the interfacial stability in Li-graphite DIBs, resulting in ultrastable batteries with a long cycle life and all-climate temperature performance. The study also points out a promising research direction for other types of batteries.