by Researchers at Central South University in Changsha, Hunan, China, have made significant strides in the development of a groundbreaking technique that enables the scalable production of ultrathin and robust lithium anodes for lithium-ion batteries. These anodes offer enhanced cycling stability and electrochemical properties, thus meeting the ever-growing demand for high-performance lithium-ion batteries. Solid-state lithium metal, which boasts high energy density and capacity in theory, has emerged as an ideal alternative to traditional graphite anodes.
In a recent paper published in Nature Communications, the research team detailed their discovery that incorporating a specialized zinc additive called dialkyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP) significantly improved the performance of thin lithium metal strips.
The study revealed that the ZDDP additive bolstered the hardness at the interface, prevented structural deterioration (such as the growth of lithium dendrites), regulated the deposition of lithium during the plating and stripping processes, and facilitated faster plating and stripping of the lithium anode compared to other materials.
Utilizing this approach, the researchers successfully produced thin lithium strips with thicknesses ranging from 5 to 50 micrometers. These strips not only displayed superior mechanical strength and electrochemical performance but also demonstrated remarkable cycling stability compared to untreated lithium strips.
Even at high area capacities, the lithium strips maintained a cycle lifetime of up to 2,800 hours. Furthermore, a symmetrical cell consisting of ultrathin lithium strips measuring 15 micrometers in thickness endured for more than 800 hours.
The study also encompassed a full cell configuration employing ZDDP-coated lithium and LiFePO4 (LFP), which exhibited outstanding cycling longevity with over 83.2% capacity retention after 350 cycles. In contrast, a cell without ZDDP deteriorated rapidly.
These improved electrochemical characteristics of the ZDDP-coated lithium anode were attributed to the formation of a robust artificial solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer with a strong affinity for lithium.
Dr. Bernt Johannessen, an instrument scientist involved in the research, emphasized the innovation behind the development of ultrathin lithium, measuring only microns thick, specifically manufactured for solid-state batteries.
During the course of the study, the researchers developed a zinc-based oil that was utilized in the production process. This involved progressively thinning the lithium, much like rolling dough through a pasta machine.
Samples of the lithium anodes were sent to the Australian Synchrotron for analysis. Dr. Johannessen employed the X-ray absorption spectroscopy beamline, which has proven particularly instrumental in investigating energy materials and catalysis.
The beamline has been exceptionally productive, producing nearly twice the number of publications in 2023 compared to the previous year. Dr. Johannessen credited this achievement to the productivity and utilization of the user community, who have successfully leveraged recent advancements in fast scanning techniques at the beamline.
Dr. Johannessen expressed gratitude towards the user community for their contributions, stating that they have embraced these developments and have fully exploited the capabilities of the beamline.
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Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
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