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Understanding the complexities of Li metal for solid-state Li-metal batteries

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Abstract

Li-metal anodes are a key enabling technology for next-generation high-energy batteries, including Li–S, Li-air, and high-voltage cathodes. While most research enabling Li metal focuses on electrolyte design, especially in the solid state, the nature of the Li metal itself has a significant impact on the performance of both solid- and liquid-based batteries. This has historically been understudied, but recent work has highlighted the importance of tailoring the Li metal to optimize high-performance batteries. This article focuses on the key aspects of Li metal that impact performance, including the method of synthesis, microstructure, surfaces, impurities, mechanics, and alloying strategies to optimize Li anode performance. The article will also briefly look at the impact of long-term cycling on the evolution of Li-metal anodes in solid-state batteries and highlight key areas of needed research.

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Acknowledgments

The author would like to acknowledge R. Sahore for aid in taking the SEM image used in the graphical abstract and R. Sahore, E. Herbert, N. Dudney, S. Kalnaus, W.-Y. Tsai, E. Self, and K. Browning for insightful discussions. This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC, under Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the US Department of Energy (DOE). The US government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the US government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript or allow others to do so, for US government purposes. DOE will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan (http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan).

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  1. Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, USA

    Andrew S. Westover

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  1. Andrew S. Westover
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Westover, A.S. Understanding the complexities of Li metal for solid-state Li-metal batteries. MRS Bulletin (2024). https://doi.org/10.1557/s43577-024-00677-x

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