Reconstruction of Solid Electrolyte Interphase with SrI2 Reactivates Dead Li for Durable Anode-Free Li-Metal Batteries

Without excess Li, anode-free Li-metal batteries (AFLMBs) have been proposed as the most likely solution to realizing highly-safe and cost-effective Li-metal batteries. Nevertheless, short cyclic life puzzles conventional AFLMBs due to anodic dead Li accumulation with a local current concentration induced by irreversible electrolyte depletion, insufficient active Li reservoir and slow Li+ transfer at the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). Herein, SrI2 is introduced into carbon paper (CP) current collector to effectively suppress dead Li through synergistic mechanisms including reversible I-/I-3(-) redox reaction to reactivate dead Li, dielectric SEI surface with SrF2 and LiF to prevent electrolyte decomposition and highly ionic conductive (3.488 mS cm(-1)) inner layer of SEI with abundant LiI to enable efficient Li+ transfer inside. With the SrI2-modified current collector, the NCM532/CP cell delivers unprecedented cyclic performances with a capacity of 129.2 mAh g(-1) after 200 cycles.

Automated summary

To address the short cyclic life issue of conventional anode-free Li-metal batteries (AFLMBs), SrI2 was introduced to effectively suppress dead Li accumulation by reactivating it through reversible I-/I-3(-) redox reaction. Additionally, a dielectric SEI surface with SrF2 and LiF was formed to prevent electrolyte decomposition, and a highly ionic conductive (3.488 mS cm(-1)) inner layer of SEI with abundant LiI enabled efficient Li+ transfer. With the SrI2-modified current collector, the NCM532/CP cell exhibited unprecedented cyclic performances with a capacity of 129.2 mAh g(-1) after 200 cycles.