Lithophilic conductive oxide-introduced dual-substrate deposition for high current density lithium metal batteries

Abstract

Lithium (Li) metal anodes hold tremendous potential for high-energy storage applications, yet their practical implementation is severely hindered by the formation of Li dendrites, which compromise both battery lifespan and safety. In this study, yttrium–barium–copper-oxide (YBa₂Cu₃O₇, YBCO) is introduced as a separator modifier due to its outstanding conductivity and strong Li⁺ adsorption affinity; thus, YBCO effectively reduces local current density on Li anodes and promotes uniform Li deposition through a two-dimensional growth pattern on YBCO. Consequently, compared to the cells with a pristine PP separator, those incorporating modified separators lead to an extended lifespan in both Li/Li symmetric cells (2800 h) and Li/Cu half-cells (400 h). Moreover, the cycling stability of Li metal batteries is greatly improved, with LiFePO₄/Li full cells retaining 82% of their capacity even after 600 cycles at 5C. This study presents a practical and efficient approach to separator modification, paving the way for a highly desired dendrite-free Li anode and the development of long-lasting Li metal batteries, especially at a high current density.