The interfacial engineering of metal electrodes for high-specific-energy and long-lifespan batteries

Abstract

High-specific-energy batteries with long-lifespan are the development aspiration for energy storage applications. Metal electrodes with high specific capacity and low reduction potential are potential candidates for next-generation high-specific-energy batteries. Nevertheless, the stability of the metal electrode batteries is constantly suffered from the unstable interface issue during the plating/stripping process, such as dendrite formation, dynamic evolution of solid electrolyte interphase, and other accompanied side reactions. To solve these challenges, numerous researches have been intensively studied based on the interfacial engineering of metal electrodes, including electrode configuration optimization, interfacial chemistry regulation and solid-solid interface construction, and the recent progress is elaborately introduced in this paper. Nevertheless, the dendrite issues cannot be entirely prohibited in solid metal electrodes, which motivate the search for potential alternatives. Liquid-metal electrodes with completely reversible structural changes and high mass transfer rate are rendered as an effective approach to solve the dendrite problem. Therefore, the development of liquid metal electrode batteries is reviewed in this paper, in which the interfacial issues are explicated and some commendable achievements are summarized. In the end, the implementation of interfacial engineering and the development roadmap of the metal electrode batteries are prospected.

Enhancing the Discharge Performance of Liquid Metal Batteries through External Magnetic Fields

“…Due to immiscibility, the three liquid layers stratify based on density differences [4]. Liquid metal batteries completely circumvent issues such as dendrite growth, electrode structural collapse, and parasitic reactions at the electrode-electrolyte interface [5]. LMBs exhibit exceptionally long cycle life [6], high safety characteristics, and low energy storage costs, making them a highly competitive choice in the field of largescale stationary energy storage [7][8][9][10][11][12].…”

Controllable CF4 Plasma In Situ Modification Strategy Enables Durable Zinc Metal Anode

“…During the discharging process of the battery, the preferential dissolution of the dendrite root causes the deposited zinc to detach from the substrate and form "dead zinc". 17 These problems will seriously affect the cycle performance and Coulombic efficiency, so it is urgent to suppress the dendrite growth.…”

“…Aqueous zinc-ion battery (ZIB) with high safety and low cost has been considered one of the feasible solutions for grid-scale energy storage. − However, the dendrite issue of the zinc anode greatly impedes the practical application of ZIBs. − During the charging process of the cell, the growth of zinc dendrite will pierce the separator and cause a short circuit. During the discharging process of the battery, the preferential dissolution of the dendrite root causes the deposited zinc to detach from the substrate and form “dead zinc” . These problems will seriously affect the cycle performance and Coulombic efficiency, so it is urgent to suppress the dendrite growth.…”

Understanding the role of additive in the solvation structure and interfacial reactions on lithium metal anode

“…Numerous studies have also been carried out to minimize the "shuttle effect". Much effort has been made by researchers in the modication of membranes, electrolytes, and cathodes 24,[26][27][28][29] in order to conne soluble long-chain suldes (Li 2 S n , n ¼ 4-8) to the cathode. Dramatically, when a well-performing coin battery in the laboratory is extended to a pouch battery, the performance of the latter is oen not satisfactory.…”