Ultra-Thin Lithium Silicide Interlayer for Solid-State Lithium-Metal Batteries.

Abstract

All-solid-state batteries with metallic lithium (Li_BCC ) anode and solid electrolyte (SE) are under active development. However, an unstable SE/Li_BCC interface due to electrochemical and mechanical instabilities hinders their operation. Herein, an ultra-thin nanoporous mixed ionic and electronic conductor (MIEC) interlayer (≈3.25 µm), which regulates Li_BCC deposition and stripping, serving as a 3D scaffold for Li⁰ ad-atom formation, Li_BCC nucleation, and long-range transport of ions and electrons at SE/Li_BCC interface is demonstrated. Consisting of lithium silicide and carbon nanotubes, the MIEC interlayer is thermodynamically stable against Li_BCC and highly lithiophilic. Moreover, its nanopores (<100 nm) confine the deposited Li_BCC to the size regime where Li_BCC exhibits "smaller is much softer" size-dependent plasticity governed by diffusive deformation mechanisms. The Li_BCC thus remains soft enough not to mechanically penetrate SE in contact. Upon further plating, Li_BCC grows in between the current collector and the MIEC interlayer, not directly contacting the SE. As a result, a full-cell having Li_3.75 Si-CNT/Li_BCC foil as an anode and LiNi_0.8 Co_0.1 Mn_0.1 O₂ as a cathode displays a high specific capacity of 207.8 mAh g^-1 , 92.0% initial Coulombic efficiency, 88.9% capacity retention after 200 cycles (Coulombic efficiency reaches 99.9% after tens of cycles), and excellent rate capability (76% at 5 C).