Enabling High-Voltage Lithium Metal Batteries Under Practical Conditions

Abstract

Rechargeable Lithium (Li) metal batteries (LMBs) offer great opportunity for high-energy-density energy storage applications. However, rarely any progress has been demonstrated so far under practical conditions including high voltage, high loading cathode, thin Li anode, and lean electrolyte. Here, in opposite to the common wisdom, we report an ether-based localized high concentration electrolyte that can greatly enhance the stability of Ni-rich LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC811) cathode under 4.4 V and 4.5 V with an effective protection interphase enriched in LiF. This effect, in combination with the superior Li stability in this electrolyte, enables dramatically improved cycling performances of Li||NMC811 batteries under highly challenging conditions. The LMB can retain over 80% capacity retention in 150 stable cycles with only 1.1 times excess Li anode and an extremely limited electrolyte amount. The findings in this work point out to a very promising strategy to develop practical high-energy Li metal batteries.