Volumetric variation confinement: surface protective structure for high cyclic stability of lithium metal electrodes

A surface protective structure to efficiently improve the cyclic stability and lifetime of the lithium metal electrode is investigated. By volumetrically confining plated lithium metal in the inter-space of a ceramic porous layer and isolating the confined lithium via a reinforced skin-layer from attack by electrolyte solvents, the coulombic efficiency of the protected lithium metal electrode reaches very high values of similar to 97-99%.