Nano-channel-based physical and chemical synergic regulation for dendrite-free lithium plating

Qiang Guo, Wei Deng, Shengjie Xia, Zibo Zhang, Fei Zhao, Binjie Hu, Sasa Zhang, Xufeng Zhou, George Zheng Chen, Zhaoping Liu

Research output: Journal PublicationArticlepeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Uncontrollable dendrite growth resulting from the non-uniform lithium ion (Li+) flux and volume expansion in lithium metal (Li) negative electrode leads to rapid performance degradation and serious safety problems of lithium metal batteries. Although N-containing functional groups in carbon materials are reported to be effective to homogenize the Li+ flux, the effective interaction distance between lithium ions and N-containing groups should be relatively small (down to nanometer scale) according to the Debye length law. Thus, it is necessary to carefully design the microstructure of N-containing carbon materials to make the most of their roles in regulating the Li+ flux. In this work, porous carbon nitride microspheres (PCNMs) with abundant nanopores have been synthesized and utilized to fabricate a uniform lithiophilic coating layer having hybrid pores of both the nano- and micrometer scales on the Cu/Li foil. Physically, the three-dimensional (3D) porous framework is favorable for absorbing volume changes and guiding Li growth. Chemically, this coating layer can render a suitable interaction distance to effectively homogenize the Li+ flux and contribute to establishing a robust and stable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer with Li-F, Li-N, and Li-O-rich contents based on the Debye length law. Such a physical-chemical synergic regulation strategy using PCNMs can lead to dendrite-free Li plating, resulting in a low nucleation overpotential and stable Li plating/stripping cycling performance in both the Li‖Cu and the Li‖Li symmetric cells. Meanwhile, a full cell using the PCNM coated Li foil negative electrode and a LiFePO4 positive electrode has delivered a high capacity retention of ∼ 80% after more than 200 cycles at 1 C and achieved a remarkable rate capability. The pouch cell fabricated by pairing the PCNM coated Li foil negative electrode with a NCM 811 positive electrode has retained ∼ 73% of the initial capacity after 150 cycles at 0.2 C. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3585-3597
Number of pages13
JournalNano Research
Volume14
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 9 Jul 2021

Keywords

  • Debye length
  • Li negative electrode
  • carbon nitride
  • lithiophilic coating
  • porous structure

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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