Scientists have developed a new way to make lithium-metal batteries (LMBs) safer and last much longer—an important step toward better electric vehicles and energy storage.
This breakthrough comes from a team at UNIST, led by Professors Hyeon Jeong Lee and Seung Geol Lee, who worked closely with Professor Ji Hoon Lee’s group at Kyungpook National University.
LMBs are considered the future of batteries because they use lithium metal instead of graphite in the anode.
This gives them much higher energy density, which could allow electric cars to drive twice as far on a single charge.
But there’s a catch: lithium metal is very reactive.
Over time, it forms a weak, unstable layer on its surface that causes problems like uneven lithium buildup and the formation of dangerous needle-like structures called dendrites.
These dendrites can pierce parts of the battery, increasing the risk of fires and explosions.
To solve this, the research team created a gas-based technique that removes this unstable surface layer and replaces it with a strong, flexible coating.
They used a gas called fluoroalkyl silane in a reaction that cleans off the unwanted layer and builds a new one that helps lithium ions move more smoothly in and out of the battery.
This new layer is made of fluorinated carbon and silicon-oxygen chains, and it forms at a relatively low temperature of about 120°C—making it easier to apply in real-world settings.
Computer simulations showed that this new coating not only helps lithium ions deposit more evenly but also makes it easier for them to leave the surface during battery use.
This improves how well the battery can charge and discharge, and it greatly boosts its lifespan.
In lab tests, the coated lithium-metal batteries lasted more than twice as long as regular ones, even when used with powerful cathodes like NMC811. These results were achieved without needing any extra chemicals in the electrolyte—a big step toward simpler and more affordable battery designs.
Professor Seung Geol Lee noted that earlier research mostly looked at how lithium sticks to the surface, but their study also focused on how it detaches, offering a clearer view of how batteries wear out.
This new method could be a game changer in making high-performance batteries safer and more reliable for everyday use.
Source: KSR.
