Electroactive polymeric nanofibrous composite to drive in situ construction of lithiophilic SEI for stable lithium metal anodes

Ai-Long Chen; Nan Shang; Yue Ouyang; Lulu Mo; Chunyang Zhou; Weng Weei Tjiu; Feili Lai; Yue-E Miao; Tianxi Liu

eScience (Mar 2022)

Electroactive polymeric nanofibrous composite to drive in situ construction of lithiophilic SEI for stable lithium metal anodes

Ai-Long Chen,
Nan Shang,
Yue Ouyang,
Lulu Mo,
Chunyang Zhou,
Weng Weei Tjiu,
Feili Lai,
Yue-E Miao,
Tianxi Liu

Affiliations

Ai-Long Chen: State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, PR China
Nan Shang: State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, PR China
Yue Ouyang: State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, PR China
Lulu Mo: State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, PR China
Chunyang Zhou: State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, PR China
Weng Weei Tjiu: Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, 138634, Singapore
Feili Lai: Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
Yue-E Miao: State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, PR China; Corresponding authors.
Tianxi Liu: State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, PR China; Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, PR China; Corresponding authors.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 2, no. 2
pp. 192 – 200

Abstract

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Uncontrolled lithium dendrite growth hinders the practical application of lithium metal batteries (LMBs). Herein, we report a novel Li+ flux distributor achieved by placing an electroactive polyvinylidene fluoride/polymethyl methacrylate (PVDF/PMMA) composite nanofiber interlayer on a current collector, inducing uniform lithium deposition to mitigate the dendrite problem. Specifically, the released PMMA reacts with Li+ to form abundant C–O–Li bonds and generate in situ a stable lithiophilic PMMA-Li solid electrolyte interphase layer. Theoretical calculations reveal that polar C–F groups in the PVDF framework and lithiophilic PMMA-Li provide homo-dispersed Li+ migration pathways with low energy barriers. Consequently, uniform Li nucleation is achieved at the molecular level, resulting in ultrahigh cycling stability with dendrite-free Li deposition at 5 mA cm−2 and 5 mAh cm−2 for over 500 h. The PVDF/PMMA ∼ Li || LiFePO4 (LFP) full cell presents an increased rate capacity of 110 mAh g−1 at 10 C. In addition, a soft-package battery demonstrates a high energy density of 289 Wh kg−1. This work provides a facile design for stable lithium metal anodes to promote the practical use of LMBs and other alkali metal batteries.

Published in eScience

ISSN: 2667-1417 (Online)
Publisher: KeAi Communications Co. Ltd.
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Technology: Mechanical engineering and machinery; Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Electronics
Website: https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/escience/

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