Laser‐Induced Silicon Oxide for Anode‐Free Lithium Metal Batteries

Abstract

The development of a rechargeable Li metal anode (LMA) is an important milestone for improved battery technology. Practical issues hindering LMAs are the formation of Li dendrites and inactive Li during plating and stripping processes, which can cause short circuits, thermal runaway, and low coulombic efficiency (CE). Here, the use of a laser‐induced silicon oxide (LI‐SiOx) layer derived from a commercial adhesive tape to improve the reversibility of Li metal batteries (LMBs) is studied. The silicone‐based adhesive of the tape is converted by a commercial infrared laser into a homogeneous porous SiOx layer deposited directly over the current collector. The coating results in superior performance by suppressing the formation of Li dendrites and inactive Li and presenting higher average CE of 99.3% (2.0 mAh cm−2 at 2.0 mA cm−2) compared to bare electrodes. The thickness and morphology of the deposited Li is investigated, revealing a different mechanism of Li deposition on coated electrodes. The laser coating affords a method that is fast and avoids the use of toxic organic solvents and extensive drying times. The improved performance with the SiOx coating is demonstrated in LMB with a zero‐excess (“anode‐free”) configuration where a 100% improved performance is verified.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Jul 09, 2020
Source ID
10.1002/adma.202002850

Entities

People

  • James Tour
  • Jinhang Chen
  • Michael G Stanford
  • Muqing Ren
  • Rodrigo V. Salvatierra
  • Weiyin Chen

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • Rice University

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Battery Technology and Engineering
  • Surface Engineering/Surface Coating Technology.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Pulsed-Laser Deposition