Fabrication and electrochemical performance evaluation of lithiophilic dual-interface layers for high-rate lithium metal batteries

Abstract

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) are regarded as the paradigm of next-generation high-energy-density batteries, attributable to their exceptionally high theoretical specific capacity. However, the commercialization process of LMBs is impeded by severe dendrite growth, uncontrolled volume expansion, and unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). Herein, by coating a trace of Al protective layer on the separator towards the lithium metal anode and modifying a layer of lithiophilic TiN on the conductive carbon cloth, lithiophilic dual-interface (Al-CFC@TiN-Li) synergistic protective layers are ingeniously designed and constructed, which effectively enhances the adsorption and desorption kinetics during the electrochemical cycle. Therefore, the provision of lithium nucleation sites during the plating/stripping process facilitates the ultra-fast transport of lithium ions and ensures a uniform lithium ion flux, thereby achieving ultra-high cycle stability (no short circuit at high current density (6 mA cm⁻²) and high area capacity (10 mAh cm⁻²)), exceptional capacity retention (a capacity retention of 92.6 % for Li||LFP cells over 400 cycles), and universal adaptability (adapted to the NCM523 cathode). This work provides a facile strategy for constructing high-performance LMBs, offering more possibilities for the practical application of LMBs.