Adaptive Multi-Site Gradient Adsorption of Siloxane-Based Protective Layers Enable High Performance Lithium-Metal Batteries

Abstract

Low Coulombic efficiency and significant capacity decay resulting from an unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and dendritic growth pose challenges to the practical application of lithium-metal batteries. In this study, a highly efficient protection layer induced by octaphenylsilsesquioxane (OPS) with LiFSI salt is investigated. The OPS exhibits a strong adsorption energy with lithium, its multi-site gradient adsorption ability enables the simultaneous capture of 8 Li+ and the uniform regulation of Li ion flux. Moreover, the mechanical strength and electronic insulation of the OPS layer induces Li deposition under the protection layer and effectively inhibits lithium dendrite growth. Such a protection layer contributes to the stable and dendrite-free performance of a lithium-metal battery employing LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) as a cathode and an ultrathin OPS-protected lithium foil (20 µm) as the anode. A remarkable capacity retention of 91.4% is achieved after 300 cycles at 1C. The OPS-protected Li anodes and NCM811 are also tested in combination with a Li1.5Al0.5Ge1.5(PO4)3 solid electrolyte, showing extended cyclability up to 300 cycles with an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.58% and capacity retention of 85.7%.