Interface engineering enabling thin lithium metal electrodes down to 0.78 μm for garnet-type solid-state batteries

Abstract

Controllable engineering of thin lithium (Li) metal is essential for increasing the energy density of solid-state batteries and clarifying the interfacial evolution mechanisms of a lithium metal negative electrode. However, fabricating a thin lithium electrode faces significant challenges due to the fragility and high viscosity of Li metal. Herein, through facile treatment of Ta-doped Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ (LLZTO) with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, its surface Li₂CO₃ species is converted into a lithiophilic layer with LiCF₃SO₃ and LiF components. It enables the thickness control of Li metal negative electrodes, ranging from 0.78 μm to 30 μm. Quasi-solid-state lithium-metal battery with an optimized 7.54 μm-thick lithium metal negative electrode, a commercial LiNi_0.83Co_0.11Mn_0.06O₂ positive electrode, and a negative/positive electrode capacity ratio of 1.1 shows a 500 cycles lifespan with a final discharge specific capacity of 99 mAh g⁻¹ at 2.35 mA cm⁻² and 25 °C. Through multi-scale characterizations of the thin lithium negative electrode, we clarify the multi-dimensional compositional evolution and failure mechanisms of lithium-deficient and -rich regions (0.78 μm and 7.54 μm), on its surface, inside it, or at the Li/LLZTO interface.