Redesigned Electrolyte Charges Lithium-Metal Batteries in 15 Minutes

Lithium-metal batteries (LMBs) are rechargeable batteries that contain an anode (i.e., the electrode through which current flows and a loss of electrons occurs) made of lithium metal. Compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), which power most electronic devices on the market today, LMBs could store more energy, charge faster and operate in extreme environments.

Despite their advantages, these batteries have not yet achieved their full potential and recharging them safely in short periods of time has proved challenging. In particular, enabling the fast and efficient movement of electrons and ions across the boundary between electrodes and the electrolyte, a process known as charge transfer, has proved difficult.

If charge transfer is slow, chemical reactions become sluggish, which can also lead to undesirable side reactions and prompt the formation of Li dendrites. These are essentially needle-like extensions that can adversely impact a battery’s performance, lead to its sudden failure and, in most extreme cases, result in fires or explosions.

Researchers at University of Science and Technology of China and other institutes recently molecularly engineered a new electrolyte that could mitigate this key limitation of LMBs. This electrolyte, introduced in a paper published in Nature Energywas found to enable the development of more stable LMBs that can be charged both rapidly and safely.

“Charge transfer across interfaces constitutes the rate-determining step in electrochemical systems,” Digen Ruan, Shunqiang Chen and their colleagues wrote in their paper.

“Sluggish kinetics triggers side reactions and hazardous surface morphologies, as represented by dendritic/dead lithium (Li⁰) in LMBs, especially under ultrafast charging (UFC). We report an approach to accelerate interfacial charge transfer by redesigning the solvent molecular structure into a distinctive planar coordination of lone-pair electrons (LPEs) with alkaline cations (Li⁺ or Na⁺).”

A new planar electron channel electrolyte

When reviewing past literature and conducting earlier studies, the researchers identified the main shortcomings of LMBs and their underlying causes. This inspired them to design a new electrolyte with a unique molecular structure that could limit unwanted side reactions and improve the stability and performance of batteries.

Ruan, Chen and their colleagues carefully engineered the solvent molecules in their electrolyte, arranging electrons into a flat and organized channel. This electron arrangement pattern is referred to as a planar-aligned electron channel (PAEC).

“This PAEC greatly strengthens the coupling between LPEs and Li⁺promoting Li⁺/Li⁰ redox reaction kinetics and reversibility,” wrote Ruan, Chen and their colleagues.

“The designed electrolyte dramatically enables stable cycling of industrial 2 Ah Li||LiNi_0.8Mn_0.1Co_0.1O₂ pouch cells at an ultrahigh rate of 4 C, achieving 100% full charge within 15 min at a charging power density of 1,747.6 W kg⁻¹. We establish a link between the solvation electronic structure and charge-transfer dynamics, highlighting a potential strategy for electrolyte design under extreme electrochemical conditions.”

Towards high-energy and fast-charging lithium batteries

The researchers tested their electrolyte in a laboratory setting, introducing it in real lithium metal pouch cells. They showed that these batteries could be recharged extremely quickly, reaching their full charge within 15 minutes.

The initial results gathered by Ruan, Chen and their colleagues highlight the potential of their electrolyte design strategy for the realization of stable, high-energy and fast-charging batteries. In the future, it could be adapted and used to design other promising electrolytes for LMBs.

Batteries with a lithium metal anode are currently at early stages of production and have not yet reached full commercialization. Eventually, the team’s efforts and their proposed approach could contribute to the advancement of LMBs, potentially facilitating their safe and reliable deployment in real-world settings.

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