Science Daily August 26, 2020
Stable operation of rechargeable lithium-based batteries at low temperatures is plagued by dendritic Li plating and unstable solid–electrolyte interphase (SEI). A team of researchers in the US (Pennsylvania State University, Argonne National Laboratory, Ohio University, University of Illinois) used a self-assembled monolayer of electrochemically active molecules on current collectors that regulates the nanostructure and composition of the SEI and deposition morphology of Li metal anodes to achieve high performance. A multilayer SEI that contains a lithium fluoride-rich inner phase and amorphous outer layer effectively seals the Li surface, in contrast to the conventional SEI, which is non-passive at low temperatures. Consequently, galvanic Li corrosion and self-discharge are suppressed, stable Li deposition is achieved from −60 °C to 45 °C…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE