Issue 23, 2023

Understanding and controlling lithium morphology in solid polymer and gel polymer systems: mechanisms, strategies, and gaps

Abstract

Lithium metal anode promises the highest theoretical energy density and may enable high energy designs such as lithium–sulfur and lithium–air batteries. However, stable lithium plating and stripping remains a challenge in all electrolyte systems including liquids, polymers, and ceramic electrolytes. In this perspective, we examine literature studies of lithium morphologies in solid polymer and gel polymer systems and compare that with well-studied liquid electrolytes. In solid polymer electrolytes, current density and mechanical properties are both governing parameters for lithium morphology, differing from conventional liquid electrolytes. Stable lithium electrodeposition may be accomplished by a polymer electrolyte with good stiffness operating at significantly lower current densities than its limiting current density, which is defined by the Sand equation. In gel polymer electrolytes, the reported lithium morphology is more similar to that in liquid electrolytes, suggesting similar nucleation and growth mechanisms. Based on experimental evidence and theoretical guidance, current strategies to control lithium morphology in solid polymer and gel polymer electrolytes are summarized. The limitations of these strategies are discussed. In particular, we note the knowledge gap in understanding the solid electrolyte interphase in solid polymer systems and the critical role it can play in regulating lithium morphologies.

Graphical abstract: Understanding and controlling lithium morphology in solid polymer and gel polymer systems: mechanisms, strategies, and gaps

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
30 5 2023
Accepted
13 10 2023
First published
19 10 2023
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Mater. Adv., 2023,4, 5867-5881

Understanding and controlling lithium morphology in solid polymer and gel polymer systems: mechanisms, strategies, and gaps

K. D. Owensby, R. Sahore, W. Tsai and X. C. Chen, Mater. Adv., 2023, 4, 5867 DOI: 10.1039/D3MA00274H

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications, without requesting further permission from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given and it is not used for commercial purposes.

To request permission to reproduce material from this article in a commercial publication, 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 commercial 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