(Invited) Advanced Electrolytes for Lithium Metal Electrode

Abstract

Advanced electrolyte containing functional additives as well as dissolved lithium salts in organic solvents has greatly upgraded the performance and reliability of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). For example, a small amount of vinylene carbonate (VC) or fluoroethylene carbonate(FEC) is still indespensable to state-of-the-art LIBs to control solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) upon graphitic carbon anodes. However, due to the energy density limitation of conventional LIBs, post LIBs having lithium metal anodes have been extensively investigated for lithium metal secondary batteries, Li/S, Li/Air, etc. during the last ten years. But, without controlling lithium dendrite formation, post LIBs may end in an empty talk. Thus, there are a variety of previous works to suppress the lithium dendrite formation by placing organic/inorganic protection layers upon lithium metal, modifying the surface morphology, or adding some functional additives. In particular, since the last approach is the most facinating method owing to simplicity, we cannot help finding new additives for electrolytes. Herein, we intoduce recent researches on advanced electrolytes for lithium metal electrode first. And then, we apply a few good candidates to micropatterned lithium metals, which could deliver much more stable cycling performance than bare ones. Finally, some optimized advanced electrolyte and micropatterned lithium metal systems are proposed in more detail.