Research Progress and Perspective on Lithium/Sodium Metal Anodes for Next‐Generation Rechargeable Batteries

Abstract

With the development of consumer electronic devices and electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are vital components for high energy storage with great impact on our modern life. However, LIBs still cannot meet all the essential demands of rapidly growing new industries. In pursuance of higher energy requirement, metal batteries (MBs) are the next-generation high-energy-density devices. Li/Na metals are considered as an ideal anode for high-energy batteries due to extremely high theoretical specific capacity (3860 and 1165 mAh g À 1 for Li and Na, respectively) and low electrochemical potential (À 3.04 V for Li and À 2.71 V for Na vs. standard hydrogen electrode). Unfortunately, uncontrolled dendrite growth, high reactivity, and infinite volume change induce severe safety concerns and poor cycle efficiency during their application. Consequently, MBs are far from commercialization stage. This Review represents a comprehensive overview of failure mechanism of lithium/sodium metal anode and its progress for rechargeable batteries through (i) electrolyte optimization, (ii) artificial solidelectrolyte interphase (SEI) layer formation, and (iii) nanoengineering at materials level in current collector, anode, and host. The challenges in current MBs research and potential applications of lithium/sodium metal anodes are also outlined and summarized.

Recent advances for SEI of hard carbon anode in sodium-ion batteries: A mini review

“…Yujing Bi, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (DOE), United States 1,166 mAh g −1 , its reversibility of deposition and dissolution is poor, and the generated sodium dendrites increase the safety hazard during use (Ma et al, 2019;Patrike et al, 2022). Carbonaceous materials have long been regarded as the most promising anode materials in LIBs.…”

“…Due to their abundant sodium resource distribution and the energy density close to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are anticipated to overtake other large-scale energy storage options in the near future ( Hwang et al, 2017 ; Patrike et al, 2022 ). China officially proposed to research and carry out a pilot demonstrations for new-generation of high-energy-density energy storage technologies such as SIBs On 22 March 2022.…”

“…One of the factors preventing SIBs from becoming widely used commercially is the negative electrode. Although the price is low and the sodium metal anode has a theoretical capacity of up to 1,166 mAh g −1 , its reversibility of deposition and dissolution is poor, and the generated sodium dendrites increase the safety hazard during use ( Ma et al, 2019 ; Patrike et al, 2022 ). Carbonaceous materials have long been regarded as the most promising anode materials in LIBs.…”

Few‐layer Graphene Lithiophilic and Sodiophilic Diffusion Layer on Porous Stainless Steel as Lithium and Sodium Metal Anodes

“…[1] The reason being their high theoretical specific capacity (Li = 3860 mAh g À 1 and Na = 1165 mAh g À 1 ) and low electrochemical potential (Li = -3 V and Na = -2.71 V vs. standard hydrogen electrode (S.H.E.)). [2] However, the stumbling block towards the practical implementation of the metal anode is the hyperreactivity of Li/Na metal. The single electron in their valence orbital makes them susceptible to quick reaction.…”

“…Although SEI plays a crucial role by selectively allowing metal ions to pass through it, its uncontrolled growth can cause the loss of the active Li/Na and ultimately lowered coulombic efficiency (C.E.). [2] Also, the formation of unstable SEI during plating and stripping leads to volume expansion and unwanted dendrite growth. Dendrites can pierce the separator and induce internal short circuits leading to thermal runaway of the battery.…”