Abstract
Rechargeable batteries based on metallic anodes provide promising platforms for fundamental and application-focused studies of chemical and physical kinetics of liquids at solid interfaces. It is known that the intrinsic chemical instability of the metals to undergo parasitic side reactions with liquid electrolytes presents a difficult challenge for long-term stability. Approaches that allow facile creation of uniform coatings on these metals to prevent physical contact with liquid electrolytes, while enabling high rate ion transport, are essential to address the anode failure issues in these batteries. Here, we report a simple electroless ion-exchange chemistry for creating uniform and functional coatings of the metal indium on lithium. By means of joint density-functional theory and interfacial characterization experiments, we show that these coatings provide multiple stabilization mechanisms, including exceptionally low surface diffusion barriers for lithium-ion transport and high chemical resistance to liquid electrolytes. Indium coatings undergo reversible alloying reactions with lithium ions, enabling the design of high-capacity hybrid In-Li anodes that utilize both alloying and plating chemistries for charge storage. By means of direct visualization, we further show that the coatings enable remarkably compact and uniform electrodeposition. The resultant In-Li anodes are shown to exhibit minimal capacity fade in extended galvanostatic cycling when paired with commercial-grade cathodes.
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Acknowledgments
We are grateful to the Advanced Research Projects Agency- Energy (ARPA-E) through award number 1002-2265, DEFOA-001002 for supporting this study. The study also made use of the electrochemical characterization facilities of the KAUST-CU Center for Energy and Sustainability, which is supported by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) through award number KUS-C1-018-02. Electron microscopy facilities at the Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR), an NSF-supported MRSEC through Grant DMR-1120296, were also used for the study.
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Appendix: Supplementary Information
7.1.1 Methods
7.1.1.1 Computational Details
We perform density functional theory calculations using the open-source JDFTx software [43], employing a plane wave basis with ultrasoft pseudopotentials [44] at the recommended kinetic energy cutoffs of 20 and 100 Hartrees for wave functions and charge densities, respectively. We use the PBE generalized gradient approximation to the exchange-correlation functional [44] and the nonlinear PCM model [34] to describe solvation in acetonitrile [45] along with 1 M non-adsorbing electrolyte. (Electrolytes in continuum solvation models are non-adsorbing by definition.) We use k-point grids that correspond to an effective supercell size of at least 30 A in each periodic direction and Fermi smearing with a width of 0.01 Hartrees.
For the body-centered tetragonal lattice of bulk indium, we obtain lattice constants a = 3.27 A and c = 4.96 A, in excellent agreement with experiment (errors +0.5% and +0.4%, respectively). For the surfaces, we use inversion-symmetric five-layer slab models with a vacuum/solvent gap of 15 A, along with truncated Coulomb potentials to exactly eliminate interactions between periodic images along the slab normal [46]. For diffusion calculations, we use 3 × 3 supercells along the surface directions and map the energy landscape of a Li atom over a symmetry-irreducible wedge of one-unit cell. Specifically, we use (the irreducible wedges of) an 8 × 8 uniform grid of Li positions for the (001) surface and a 6 × 6 grid for (011). All ionic positions are optimized self-consistently, except for the central layer held at bulk geometry for surface calculations, and planar coordinates of Li constrained for mapping the energy landscape.
7.1.1.2 Experimental Details
7.1.1.2.1 Materials
Lithium discs were obtained from MTI corporation. Indium foil (0.1 μm), indium(III) tris(trifluoromethanesulfonimide), ethylene carbonate, diethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, lithium hexafluorophosphate, and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonimide) were all purchased from Sigma Aldrich. Fluoroethylene carbonate was obtained from Alfa Aesar. Celgard 3501 separator was obtained from Celgard Inc. Lithium titanate was obtained from NEI Corporation. Nickel cobalt manganese oxide cathode was bought from Electrodes and More Co. All the chemicals were used as received in after rigorous drying in a ~0 ppm water level and <5 ppm oxygen glove box.
7.1.1.2.2 Scanning Electron Microscopy and EDX
Surface analysis of indium-coated lithium samples was done using SEM and EDX techniques using the LEO155FESEM instrument. The samples were prepared by 6-h treating of lithium disc in a solution of 12 mM In(TFSI)3 in EC/DMC solvent, followed by 2-day drying in glove box antechamber. Morphology of electrodeposition was studied by a postmortem analysis of a Li||stainless steel battery using the electrolyte 1 M LiPF6 EC/DMC with a Celgard separator. For the case of indium coating, 12 mM In(TFSI)3 was added in the control electrolyte. The battery was discharged at a rate of 0.5 mA/cm2 for 6 h.
7.1.1.2.3 X-Ray Diffraction
XRD was carried out on a Scintag Theta-Theta X-ray diffractometer using Cu K-α radiation at λ = 1.5406 Å. Samples were quickly transferred to the XRD chamber with minimal exposure to air. For XRD same indium-coated lithium samples were used as for SEM characterizations.
7.1.1.2.4 X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy
XPS was conducted using Surface Science Instruments SSX-100 with operating pressure of ~2 × 10−9 torr. Monochromatic Al K-α x-rays (1486.6 eV) with beam diameter of 1 mm were used. Photoelectrons were collected at an emission angle of 55°. A hemispherical analyzer determined electron kinetic energy, using pass energy of 150 V for wide survey scans and 50 V for high-resolution scans. Samples were ion-etched using 4 kV Ar ions, which were rastered over an area of 2.25 × 4 mm with total ion beam current of 2 mA, to remove adventitious carbon. Spectra were referenced to adventitious C 1s at 284.5 eV. CasaXPS software was used for XPS data analysis with Shelby backgrounds. Samples were exposed to air only during the short transfer time to the XPS chamber (less than 10 s).
7.1.1.2.5 Impedance Spectroscopy
The impedance spectroscopy measurement was done using a Novocontrol N40 Broadband Dielectric instrument. Symmetric cells were prepared using two lithium discs using the electrolyte 1 M LiPF6 EC/DMC with a Celgard separator. The indium-based cells were prepared by addition of 12 mM In(TFSI)3 as the co-salt in the control electrolyte. The measurements were done in a frequency range from 10−3 to 107 Hz.
7.1.1.2.6 Cyclic Voltammetry
Cyclic voltammetry was performed in two-electrode setup. In one of the tests, the cell comprised of lithium as reference and counter electrode and indium foil as working electrode, while in another experiment, stainless steel was used as the working electrode. The electrolyte used in the former case was 1 M LiPF6 EC/DMC, while in the latter the same electrolyte was used with 12 mM In(TFSI)3. In both cases the separator used was Celgard, and the scanning rate was 1 mV/s operated between 0 and 2 V (vs. Li/Li+).
7.1.1.2.7 Direct Visualization Experiments
The visualization experiment was carried out for understanding the electrodeposition process with and without indium coatings. The electrolyte utilized was 1 M LiPF6-EC/DMC and the same electrolyte with 12 mM In(TFSI)3 additive. The setup consists of a glass chamber with a lithium rod on one side and stainless steel disc on the other, connected using tungsten rods. The glass tube was tightly closed and sealed with Teflon film to ensure complete inert environment inside the cell. In these experiments, the stainless steel electrode was continuously charged with a current density of 8 mA/cm2. The electrode, being charged, was monitored over time, and images of lithium deposition at different intervals were captured from an optical microscope.
7.1.1.2.8 Battery Performance
2032 type Li||Li coin cells with and without 12 mM In(TFSI)3 were prepared inside an argon-filled glove box. The amount of electrolyte used for all battery testing was 60 μl. The cells were evaluated using galvanostatic (strip-plate) cycling in a Neware CT-3008 battery tester. The batteries were repeatedly charged and discharged with each half cycle 1 h long. Coulombic efficiency test was performed in Li||stainless steel cell with a higher current density of 1 mA/cm2 and capacity 1 mAh/cm2; 10% (vol.) fluoroethylene carbonate was used in additive in both control and indium-based electrolytes. Half-cell test was performed in lithium versus lithium titanate cell at a C-rate of 1 C. The cathode loading was 3 mAh/cm2 and the voltage range was between 1 and 3 V. For cycling NCM cells with 2 mAh cm−2, the voltage range was chosen to be 4.2 to 3 V. A constant voltage step was applied at the end of the charge cycle at 4.2, until the current reduced to 10% of the current used in galvanostatic charging process. The charging was done at C/2 rate and discharge at 1 C.
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Choudhury, S. (2019). Electroless Formation of Hybrid Lithium Anodes for High Interfacial Ion Transport. In: Rational Design of Nanostructured Polymer Electrolytes and Solid–Liquid Interphases for Lithium Batteries. Springer Theses. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28943-0_7
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