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Nitrate Additives Coordinated with Crown Ether Stabilize Lithium Metal Anodes in Carbonate Electrolyte
Author(s) -
Gu Sichen,
Zhang SiWei,
Han Junwei,
Deng Yaqian,
Luo Chong,
Zhou Guangmin,
He Yanbing,
Wei Guodan,
Kang Feiyu,
Lv Wei,
Yang QuanHong
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.202102128
Subject(s) - electrolyte , materials science , inorganic chemistry , faraday efficiency , anode , cathode , chemical engineering , dissolution , crown ether , potassium nitrate , ion , chemistry , potassium , organic chemistry , metallurgy , electrode , engineering
Lithium metal anodes (LMAs) are promising for next‐generation batteries but have poor compatibility with the widely used carbonate‐based electrolytes, which is a major reason for their severe dendrite growth and low Coulombic efficiency (CE). A nitrate additive to the electrolyte is an effective solution, but its low solubility in carbonates is a problem that can be solved using a crown ether, as reported. A rubidium nitrate additive coordinated with 18‐crown‐6 crown ether stabilizes the LMA in a carbonate electrolyte. The coordination promotes the dissolution of NO 3 − ions and helps form a dense solid electrolyte interface that is Li 3 N‐rich which guides uniform Li deposition. In addition, the Rb (18‐crown‐6) + complexes are adsorbed on the dendrite tips, shielding them from Li deposition on the dendrite tips. A high CE of 97.1% is achieved with a capacity of 1 mAh cm −2 in a half cell, much higher than when using the additive‐free electrolyte (92.2%). Such an additive is very compatible with a nickel‐rich ternary cathode at a high voltage, and the assembled full battery with a cathode material loading up to 10 mg cm −2 shows an average CE of 99.8% over 200 cycles, indicating a potential for practical use.