Advancing lithium metal electrode beyond 99.9% coulombic efficiency via super-saturated electrolyte with compressed solvation structure

Abstract Lithium metal negative electrode is pivotal for advancing high-energy-density lithium batteries. Despite their promise, the inherent poor interfacial stability of electrolytes on lithium metal and the repeated reconstruction of the solid electrolyte interphase lead to continuous consumption...

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Main Authors: Wujie Yang, Aoyuan Chen, Ping He, Haoshen Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59563-y
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author Wujie Yang
Aoyuan Chen
Ping He
Haoshen Zhou
author_facet Wujie Yang
Aoyuan Chen
Ping He
Haoshen Zhou
author_sort Wujie Yang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Lithium metal negative electrode is pivotal for advancing high-energy-density lithium batteries. Despite their promise, the inherent poor interfacial stability of electrolytes on lithium metal and the repeated reconstruction of the solid electrolyte interphase lead to continuous consumption of active Li and electrolyte, causing rapid failure of Li metal batteries under practical conditions. Here, we propose compressing the spacing between Li ions and anions to recruit more anions around Li ions, forming tighter solvation clusters, and then achieving the super-saturated electrolyte with a 16 M Li salt concentration in the solvent phase. This compressed solvation structure electrolyte demonstrates enhanced stability towards Li metal negative electrode, attaining more than 99.9% coulombic efficiency in Li||Cu cells and enabling long cycling life in lean-Li Li metal full cells. Designed with a positive electrode material proportion of 68%, our Li metal pouch cell achieves a specific energy of 510.3 Wh kg−1 (based on the total mass of the cell) and maintains stable cycling over 100 cycles.
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issn 2041-1723
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spelling doaj-art-706592f5fe904dca8ef7680b6e0530482025-08-20T02:15:15ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-05-0116111210.1038/s41467-025-59563-yAdvancing lithium metal electrode beyond 99.9% coulombic efficiency via super-saturated electrolyte with compressed solvation structureWujie Yang0Aoyuan Chen1Ping He2Haoshen Zhou3Center of Energy Storage Materials & Technology, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Nanjing UniversityCenter of Energy Storage Materials & Technology, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Nanjing UniversityCenter of Energy Storage Materials & Technology, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Nanjing UniversityCenter of Energy Storage Materials & Technology, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Nanjing UniversityAbstract Lithium metal negative electrode is pivotal for advancing high-energy-density lithium batteries. Despite their promise, the inherent poor interfacial stability of electrolytes on lithium metal and the repeated reconstruction of the solid electrolyte interphase lead to continuous consumption of active Li and electrolyte, causing rapid failure of Li metal batteries under practical conditions. Here, we propose compressing the spacing between Li ions and anions to recruit more anions around Li ions, forming tighter solvation clusters, and then achieving the super-saturated electrolyte with a 16 M Li salt concentration in the solvent phase. This compressed solvation structure electrolyte demonstrates enhanced stability towards Li metal negative electrode, attaining more than 99.9% coulombic efficiency in Li||Cu cells and enabling long cycling life in lean-Li Li metal full cells. Designed with a positive electrode material proportion of 68%, our Li metal pouch cell achieves a specific energy of 510.3 Wh kg−1 (based on the total mass of the cell) and maintains stable cycling over 100 cycles.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59563-y
spellingShingle Wujie Yang
Aoyuan Chen
Ping He
Haoshen Zhou
Advancing lithium metal electrode beyond 99.9% coulombic efficiency via super-saturated electrolyte with compressed solvation structure
Nature Communications
title Advancing lithium metal electrode beyond 99.9% coulombic efficiency via super-saturated electrolyte with compressed solvation structure
title_full Advancing lithium metal electrode beyond 99.9% coulombic efficiency via super-saturated electrolyte with compressed solvation structure
title_fullStr Advancing lithium metal electrode beyond 99.9% coulombic efficiency via super-saturated electrolyte with compressed solvation structure
title_full_unstemmed Advancing lithium metal electrode beyond 99.9% coulombic efficiency via super-saturated electrolyte with compressed solvation structure
title_short Advancing lithium metal electrode beyond 99.9% coulombic efficiency via super-saturated electrolyte with compressed solvation structure
title_sort advancing lithium metal electrode beyond 99 9 coulombic efficiency via super saturated electrolyte with compressed solvation structure
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59563-y
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