Mechanical rolling formation of interpenetrated lithium metal/lithium tin alloy foil for ultrahigh-rate battery anode

Abstract

To achieve good rate capability of lithium metal anodes for high-energy-density batteries, one fundamental challenge is the slow lithium diffusion at the interface. Here we report an interpenetrated, three-dimensional lithium metal/lithium tin alloy nanocomposite foil realized by a simple calendering and folding process of lithium and tin foils, and spontaneous alloying reactions. The strong affinity between the metallic lithium and lithium tin alloy as mixed electronic and ionic conducting networks, and their abundant interfaces enable ultrafast charger diffusion across the entire electrode. We demonstrate that a lithium/lithium tin alloy foil electrode sustains stable lithium stripping/plating under 30 mA cm −2 and 5 mAh cm −2 with a very low overpotential of 20 mV for 200 cycles in a commercial carbonate electrolyte. Cycled under 6 C (6.6 mA cm −2 ), a 1.0 mAh cm −2 LiNi 0.6 Co 0.2 Mn 0.2 O 2 electrode maintains a substantial 74% of its capacity by pairing with such anode.

Li‐containing alloys beneficial for stabilizing lithium anode: A review

“…Apart from the Li x Si alloy, the lithium alloy anodes of other IVA group elements has also been widely reported, such as Li‐Sn and Li‐Ge alloy anodes 47,52‐57,61 . Similar to the Li x Si alloy, the Li‐Sn and Li‐Ge alloy anodes also exhibit relatively high specific capacity 47,57 .…”

Material design and structure optimization for rechargeable lithium-sulfur batteries

“…[286][287][288][289][290][291][292] For example, a nanostructured Li metal foil interpenetrated with in-situformed 3D interconnected, mixed electron and Li ion conductive Li 22 Sn 5 alloy networks was prepared using a facile repeated calendaring and folding method. 293 The 3D Li 22 Sn 5 alloy networks in the composite Li anode can facilitate both Li ion diffusion and electron conduction, and the metallic Li in the composite Li anode serves as a ''Li reservoir'' to provide an Li source. In addition, owing to the potential difference ($0.3 V) between the metallic Li and the Li 22 Sn 5 alloy, a number of Li/ Li 22 Sn 5 interfaces contribute to forcing Li diffusion within the entire electrode.…”

Sustainable design of fully recyclable all solid-state batteries

“…The suspension comprising of two phases are then separated using either filtration or gravity-based separation methods such as centrifugal decanting While the lithium metal anode is used in this recycling design, it is noted that alternative anode materials have been reported as well, such as anode-free, graphite-based, and Li-alloy type configurations. [22][23][24] As treatment and separation of unreacted lithium metal are considerably more complex than graphite and metallic alloys, which can be separated using physical methods, using the lithium metal anode in this ASSB recycling design would offer a more conservative approach. In the case where unreacted lithium metal remains, the cell should first be safely discharged to low voltages, ensuring all excess lithium are fully reacted before beginning the recycling process.…”