Premium
Wetting Phenomena and their Effect on the Electrochemical Performance of Surface‐Tailored Lithium Metal Electrodes in Contact with Cross‐linked Polymeric Electrolytes
Author(s) -
Zhang Mengyi,
Becking Jens,
Stan Marian Cristian,
Lenoch Arthur,
Bieker Peter,
Kolek Martin,
Winter Martin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.202001816
Subject(s) - wetting , materials science , microscale chemistry , nucleation , electrolyte , contact angle , lithium (medication) , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , electrode , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , medicine , engineering , endocrinology , mathematics education , mathematics
Li metal batteries (LMBs) containing cross‐linked polymer electrolytes (PEs) are auspicious candidates for next‐generation batteries. However, the wetting behavior of PEs on uneven Li metal surfaces has been neglected in most studies. Herein, it is shown that microscale defect sites with curved edges play an important role in a wettability‐dependent electrodeposition. The wettability and the viscoelastic properties of PEs are correlated, and the impact of wettability on the nucleation and diffusion near the Li|PE interface is distinguished. It is found that the curvature of the edges is a key factor for the investigation of wetting phenomena. The appearance of microscale defects and phase separation are identified as main causes for erratic nucleation. It is emphasized that the implementation of stable and consistent long‐term cycling performance of LMBs using PEs requires a deeper understanding of the “soft‐solid”–solid contact between PEs and inherently rough Li metal surfaces.