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Protecting lithium metal anode by magnetron sputtering a copper coating

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Abstract

We propose that the Li anode can be protected by a Cu coating via the technique of magnetron sputtering. Cu has high electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and chemical stability. Li deposition on Cu coating with a porous structure disperses the local current density and produces a uniform Li-ion flux, greatly suppressing growth of Li dendrites and the layer prevents Li from directly contacting electrolyte while ensures Li-ion transport. The symmetric battery with the Cu-coated Li anode lasting for 140 h presents stable Li deposition/dissolution and improved polarization. The full Li–S battery adopting this modified anode exhibits well-improved cycling stability and capacity retention. It delivers an initial discharge specific capacity of 1148 mAh/g and obtains 526 mAh/g after 300 cycles with high Coulombic efficiency of 99.6% at 0.5 C (1 C = 1675 mAh/g), while the traditional Li–S battery only obtains 490 mAh/g after 200 cycles. Scanning electron microscopy images of the cycled Cu-coated Li anode presents favorable integrity. Electrochemical impedance spectra, cyclic voltammogram, and charge-discharge profiles were investigated to consolidate the function of the Cu coating. This simple and facile strategy provides an approach to protect the metal electrode applied in other metal batteries.

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Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the “Strategic Priority Research Program” of the Chinese Academy of Science (no. XDA03040000) and the “Student’s Platform for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program” of the Ministry of Education of China (no. 201710359071).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, Anhui, China

    Qiong Tang, Heqin Li, Yuanyuan Pan, Jing Zhang & Yong Chen

  2. School of Electronic Science and Applied Physics, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, Anhui, China

    Qiong Tang & Jing Zhang

Authors
  1. Qiong Tang
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  2. Heqin Li
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  3. Yuanyuan Pan
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  4. Jing Zhang
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  5. Yong Chen
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Correspondence to Heqin Li.

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Tang, Q., Li, H., Pan, Y. et al. Protecting lithium metal anode by magnetron sputtering a copper coating. Ionics 25, 2525–2533 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-018-2717-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-018-2717-x

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