Issue 22, 2021

A mini-review of advanced separator engineering in lithium metal batteries

Abstract

The lithium metal anode has been treated as the most promising alternative in next-generation lithium-based batteries due to its ultra-high theoretical capacity, low potential and light weight. However, significant challenges such as dendrite growth and poor lifetime have severely hindered the commercialization process of lithium metal anodes. The separator not only functions as the first signal of lithium dendrite formation, but also the last barrier to prevent the battery from short-circuit, playing an irreplaceable role in lithium metal batteries. Traditional polyolefin separators have shortcomings such as poor thermal stability and poor wettability. Therefore, separator engineering is of great significance for suppressing lithium dendrite growth. In this review, we classified the recent progress of separator engineering in lithium metal batteries into four parts: (1) optimizing the performance of polyolefin membranes; (2) controlling the dendrite growth direction; (3) developing a novel separator material; (4) introducing a functional multilayer membrane. To obtain direct evidence of dendrite suppression by separator engineering, new technical means for certifying lithium deposition behaviors have also been reviewed. Finally, our conclusion and perspectives on the future research and development of lithium metal batteries are also briefly outlined.

Graphical abstract: A mini-review of advanced separator engineering in lithium metal batteries

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
29 7 2021
Accepted
10 9 2021
First published
10 9 2021

Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2021,5, 5656-5671

A mini-review of advanced separator engineering in lithium metal batteries

H. Wu, L. Chen and Y. Chen, Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2021, 5, 5656 DOI: 10.1039/D1SE01152A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements