Work

Regulating Lithium Plating Behavior in Lithium‐Metal Batteries via Molten‐Lithium Processing With Inorganic Additives

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) are compelling candidates for next‐generation energy storage owing to the ultrahigh theoretical capacity (3,860 mAh g −1 ) and high energy density (400–500 Wh kg −1 ). However, uncontrollable dendrite growth, severe volume change, low Coulombic efficiency, and the poor lithiophilicity of Cu current collectors have impeded practical deployment. Here, we report a self‐assembled gradient interphase (SGI) produced in situ by reacting molten lithium with ZnF 2 . The SGI exhibits a self‐formed, vertically graded architecture. The SGI consists of a LiZn alloy sublayer that lowers nucleation overpotential and accelerates Li + transport, and a LiF layer that offers high ionic conductivity and outstanding air stability for durable interfacial stability. The lower LiZn alloy layer promotes uniform lithium nucleation by providing a low diffusion barrier and strong interfacial affinity, while the upper LiF layer forms a stable, inorganic SEI that effectively suppresses dendrite growth. The symmetric cell equipped with the SGI Li–Zn–F interphase exhibited highly durable cycling, maintaining stable operation for 3000 h under 4 mA cm −2 /16 mAh cm −2 . This dual‐layer configuration, in which distinct functional roles are spatially separated within the interphase, offers an advantage not attainable with conventional single‐layer coatings.

Source: Small

DOI: 10.1002/smll.74228