Gas treatment protection of metallic lithium anode

The effects of different coating layers on lithium metal anode formed by reacting with different controlled atmospheres (argon, CO2–O2(2:1), N2, and CO2–O2–N2(2:1:3)) have been investigated. The obtained XRD, second ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), and scanning probe microscope (SPM) results demonstrate the formation of coating layers composed of Li2CO3, Li3N, and the mixture of them on lithium tablets, respectively. The Li/Li symmetrical cell and Li/S cell are assembled to prove the advantages of the protected lithium tablet on electrochemical performance. The comparison of SEM and SIMS characterizations before/after cycles clarifies that an SEI-like composition formed on the lithium tablets could modulate the interfacial stabilization between the lithium foil and the ether electrolyte.