Focus on the Electroplating Chemistry of Li Ions in Nonaqueous Liquid Electrolytes: Toward Stable Lithium Metal Batteries

Hongmei Liang; Li Wang; Li Sheng; Hong Xu; Youzhi Song; Xiangming He

doi:10.1007/s41918-022-00158-2

Electrochemical Energy Reviews ›› 2022, Vol. 5 ›› Issue (Suppl 2) DOI: 10.1007/s41918-022-00158-2

Review Article

Focus on the Electroplating Chemistry of Li Ions in Nonaqueous Liquid Electrolytes: Toward Stable Lithium Metal Batteries

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¹Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China

^f hexm@tsinghua.edu.cn

Hongmei Liang

received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Central South University in 2015 and 2018, respectively. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, China. Her research mainly focuses on lithium metal anodes and liquid electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries.

Li Wang

is an associate professor at the Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, China. She received her B.S. degree in 1999 and Ph.D. degree in 2004 in Analytical Chemistry from Tsinghua University. Her research expertise includes new electrode material preparation technology, failure mechanisms of lithium-ion batteries, power-battery safety technology and the fundamental understanding of related electrochemical processes.

Li Sheng

is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University. She received her Ph.D. degree from the Department of Organic and Polymeric Materials at Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan, in 2013. Before going to Japan, she completed a Master degree of Materials Science at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2011. Her research focuses on separators and liquid electrolytes for lithium-ion (metal) batteries, well-ordered nanostructure materials for catalysts and sulfonated polymers for proton exchange membranes.

Hong Xu

is an associate professor at the Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, China. He received his Bachelor’s degree in polymers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2009 and his Ph.D. degree in structural molecular science from the Institute for Molecular Science in 2015. He is currently an associate professor at Tsinghua University. His research interest lies in the fields of extreme ultraviolet photoresists, covalent organic frameworks and lithium-ion batteries.

Youzhi Song

received his Ph.D. degree under Prof. Baoku Zhu from the Department of Polymer Science and Engineering at Zhejiang University in 2018. Currently, he is a postdoctoral researcher in Prof. Xiangming He’s group at the Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University. His current research interests are focused on the rational design of polymeric membrane separators for safe and durable lithium-based batteries.

Xiangming He

is a professor and the group leader of the Lithium Ion Battery Laboratory at the Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the School of Chemical Engineering and Ph.D. degree from the Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University. His research focuses on the design and application of functional materials for energy storage and conversion and the fundamental understanding of related electrochemical processes.

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Abstract

Lithium metal anodes (LMAs) show unique superiority for secondary batteries because they possess the lowest molar mass and reduction potential among metallic elements. It can diminish the large gap in energy density between secondary batteries and fossil fuels. However, notorious dendrite propagation gives rise to large volume expansion, low reversibility and potential safety hazards, making the commercial application of LMAs a perennial challenge. The booming development in material characterization deepens the understanding of the dendrite formation mechanism, and the great progress made via nanotechnology-based solutions hastens practical procedures. In this paper, we highlight the current understanding of lithium dendrites. We first illustrate different nucleation theories and growth patterns of lithium dendrites. According to the growth patterns, we classify dendrites into three categories to accurately describe their different formation mechanisms. Then, we concentrate on the factors that may lead to dendritic deposits in each electroplating step. The dendritic morphology originates from the inhomogeneity of Li atoms, electrons, mass transport in the bulk electrolyte and the solid electrolyte interphase. Different inducements lead to different growth patterns. Based on this understanding, strategies for controlling lithium plating are divided into five methodologies. Reasonable integration of the strategies is expected to provide new ideas for basic research and practical application of LMAs. Finally, current limitations and advice for future research are proposed, aiming at inspiring engaged contributors and new entrants to explore scalable solutions for early realization of industrialization.

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Hongmei Liang, Li Wang, Li Sheng, Hong Xu, Youzhi Song, Xiangming He. Focus on the Electroplating Chemistry of Li Ions in Nonaqueous Liquid Electrolytes: Toward Stable Lithium Metal Batteries. Electrochemical Energy Reviews, 2022, 5(Suppl 2): DOI:10.1007/s41918-022-00158-2