A bifunctional ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer protective layer for dendrites-free lithium metal anodes

• Published in: Journal of energy chemistry Vol. 48; pp. 203 - 207
• Main Authors: Liang, Yeru, Xiao, Ye, Yan, Chong, Xu, Rui, Ding, Jun-Fan, Liang, Ji, Peng, Hong-Jie, Yuan, Hong, Huang, Jia-Qi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.09.2020
• Subjects: Air-stable and anti-water; Bifunctional copolymer layer; Dendrites-free; Lithium metal anode; Solid electrolyte interphase (SEI); Air-stable and anti-water; Bifunctional copolymer layer; Dendrites-free; Solid electrolyte interphase (SEI); Lithium metal anode
• ISSN: 2095-4956
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jechem.2020.01.027

Lithium metal batteries are strongly considered as one of the most promising candidates for next-generation high-performance battery systems. However, the uncontrollable growth of lithium dendrites and the highly reactive lithium metal result in the severe safety risks and the short lifespan for high-energy-density rechargeable batteries. Here, we demonstrate a hydrophobic and ionically conductive ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer layer can not only endow lithium metal anodes with an air-stable and anti-water surface, but also efficiently suppress the lithium-dendrites growth during the electrochemical cycling process. Therefore, the introduction of the EVA copolymer as a bifunctional protection layer simultaneously improves the anti-water/air performance and electrochemical cycling stability of lithium metal anode. Hydrophobic and ionically conductive ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer is proposed as a bifunctional protection layer to fabricate stable and dendrites-free lithium metal anodes. [Display omitted]