Stable electrode–electrolyte interfaces constructed by fluorine- and nitrogen-donating ionic additives for high-performance lithium metal batteries

Abstract The advancement of electrolyte systems has enabled the development of high-performance Li metal batteries (LMBs), which have tackled intractable dendritic Li growth and irreversible Li plating/stripping. In particular, the robust electrode–electrolyte interfaces created by electrolyte additives inhibit the deterioration of the cathode and the Li metal anode during repeated cycles. This paper reports the application of electrode–electrolyte interface modifiers, namely lithium nitrate (LiNO3) and lithium difluoro(bisoxalato) phosphate (LiDFBP) as a N donor and F donor, respectively. LiDFBP and LiNO3 with different electron-accepting abilities construct a mechanically robust, LiF-rich inner solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and ion-permeable, Li3N-containing outer SEI layers on the Li metal anode, respectively. A well-structured dual-layer SEI capable of transporting Li+ ions is formed on the Li metal anode, while the cathode–electrolyte interface (CEI) on the LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) cathode is strengthened. Ether-based electrolytes containing LiDFBP and LiNO3 lead to a long cycle life (600 cycles) of Li|NCM811 full cells at C/2 with 80.9% capacity retention and a high Coulombic efficiency (CE) of 99.94%. Structural optimization of the SEI and CEI provides an opportunity for advancing the practical uses of LMBs.