High-energy lithium metal pouch cells with limited anode swelling and long stable cycles
by Niu, C. J.; Lee, H.; Chen, S. R.; Li, Q. Y.; Du, J.; Xu, W.; Zhang, J. G.; Whittingham, M. S.; Xiao, J.; Liu, J.
Lithium metal anodes have attracted much attention as candidates for high-energy batteries, but there have been few reports of long cycling behaviour, and the degradation mechanism of realistic high-energy Li metal cells remains unclear. Here, we develop a prototypical 300 Wh kg(-1) (1.0 Ah) pouch cell by integrating a Li metal anode, a LiNi0.6Mn0.2Co0.2O2 cathode and a compatible electrolyte. Under small uniform external pressure, the cell undergoes 200 cycles with 86% capacity retention and 83% energy retention. In the initial 50 cycles, flat Li foil converts into large Li particles that are entangled in the solid-electrolyte interphase, which leads to rapid volume expansion of the anode (cell thickening of 48%). As cycling continues, the external pressure helps the Li anode maintain good contact between the Li particles, which ensures a conducting percolation pathway for both ions and electrons, and thus the electrochemical reactions continue to occur. Accordingly, the solid Li particles evolve into a porous structure, which manifests in substantially reduced cell swelling by 19% in the subsequent 150 cycles.
- Journal
- Nature Energy
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 7
- Year
- 2019
- Start Page
- 551-559
- URL
- https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41560-019-0390-6
- ISBN/ISSN
- 2058-7546
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41560-019-0390-6