Polymer‐based electrolytes have attracted ever‐increasing attention for all‐solid‐state lithium (Li) metal batteries due to their ionic conductivity, flexibility, and easy assembling into batteries, and are expected to overcome safety issues by replacing flammable liquid electrolytes. However, it is still a critical challenge to effectively block Li dendrite growth and improve the long‐term cycling stability of all‐solid‐state batteries with polymer electrolytes. Here, the interface between novel poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF)‐based solid electrolytes and the Li anode is explored via systematical experiments in combination with first‐principles calculations, and it is found that an in situ formed nanoscale interface layer with a stable and uniform mosaic structure can suppress Li dendrite growth. Unlike the typical short‐circuiting that often occurs in most studied poly(ethylene oxide) systems, this interface layer in the PVDF‐based system causes an open‐circuiting feature at high current density and thus avoids the risk of over‐current. The effective self‐suppression of the Li dendrite observed in the PVDF–LiN(SO2F)2 (LiFSI) system enables over 2000 h cycling of repeated Li plating–stripping at 0.1 mA cm−2 and excellent cycling performance in an all‐solid‐state LiCoO2||Li cell with almost no capacity fade after 200 cycles at 0.15 mA cm−2 at 25 °C. These findings will promote the development of safe all‐solid‐state Li metal batteries.
Solid polymer electrolytes have emerged as promising alternatives to current liquid electrolytes due to their advantages in battery safety and stability. Among various polymer electrolytes, poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)‐based electrolytes with high ionic conductivity, large mechanical strength, and excellent electrochemical and thermal stability have a great potential for practical applications. However, fundamental issues, such as how the Li ions transport in the PVDF‐based electrolytes and how the residual solvent affects the cell performance, are unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the solvation effect due to a small amount of residual N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) bound into the electrolytes plays a critical role in ionic transport, interface stability, and cell performance. With the residual DMF existing in the electrolytes in a bound state not as free solvent, the ionic conduction could be realized by the Li‐ion transport among the interaction sites between the bound DMF and PVDF chains. Regulating the solvation effect in the electrolytes can make the PVDF‐based solid‐state Li metal batteries a significantly improved cycling performance at 25 °C (e. g., over 1000 cycles with a capacity retention of more than 94 %). These findings would promote the development of next‐generation Li metal batteries with high energy density and safety.
All‐solid‐state batteries with conversion‐type cathodes promise to exceed the performance of lithium‐ion batteries due to their high theoretical specific energy and potential safety. However, the reported performance of solid‐state batteries is still unsatisfactory due to poor electronic and ionic conduction in the composite cathodes. Here, in situ formation of active material as well as highly effective ion‐ and electron‐conducting paths via electrochemical decomposition of Li6PS5Cl0.5Br0.5 (LPSCB)/multiwalled carbon nanotube mixtures during cycling is reported. Effectively, the LPSCB electrolyte forms a multiphase conversion‐type cathode by partial decomposition during the first discharge. Comprehensive characterization, especially operando pressure monitoring, reveals a co‐redox process of two redox‐active elements during cycling. The monolithic LPSCB‐based cell shows stable cycling over 1000 cycles with a very high capacity retention of 94% at high current density (0.885 mA cm−2, ≈0.7 C) at room temperature and a high areal capacity of 12.56 mAh cm−2 is achieved.
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