Serrated lithium fluoride nanofibers-woven interlayer enables uniform lithium deposition for lithium-metal batteries

Abstract

Abstract The uncontrollable formation of Li dendrites has become the biggest obstacle to the practical application of Li-metal anodes in high-energy rechargeable Li batteries. Herein, a unique LiF interlayer woven by millimeter-level, single-crystal and serrated LiF nanofibers (NFs) was designed to enable dendrite-free and highly efficient Li-metal deposition. This high-conductivity LiF interlayer can increase the Li+ transference number and induce the formation of ‘LiF–NFs-rich’ solid–electrolyte interface (SEI). In the ‘LiF–NFs-rich’ SEI, the ultra-long LiF nanofibers provide a continuously interfacial Li+ transport path. Moreover, the formed Li–LiF interface between Li-metal and SEI film renders low Li nucleation and high Li+ migration energy barriers, leading to uniform Li plating and stripping processes. As a result, steady charge–discharge in a Li//Li symmetrical cell for 1600 h under 4 mAh cm−2 and 400 stable cycles under a high area capacity of 5.65 mAh cm−2 in a high-loading Li//rGO–S cell at 17.9 mA cm−2 could be achieved. The free-standing LiF–NFs interlayer exhibits superior advantages for commercial Li batteries and displays significant potential for expanding the applications in solid Li batteries.