Solid-liquid coexisting LiNO3 electrolyte for extremely stable lithium metal anode on a bare Cu foil

Li dendrite growth restricts the promising application of lithium (Li) metal anode as high-energy density reachable battery. Host matrix, solid electrolyte and surface modification of Li were widely studied to suppress Li dendrite growth. However, material preparation and process modification are complex and high-cost. Herein, a simple and effective solid-liquid coexisting lithium nitrate (SLC-LiNO3) electrolyte was proposed and excellent Li plating/stripping properties were obtained on a planar and bare Cu foil without host matrix and surface modification. It is confirmed that a robust LiF-rich solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer was formed in SLC-LiNO3 electrolyte and Li+ transference number was obviously enlarged due the induced action of solid LiNO3 particles. As a result, uniform Li deposition without uncontrollable Li dendrite growth was achieved. In SLC-LiNO3 electrolyte, high Coulombic efficiency (98% for 300 cycles) was obtained on a planar Cu foil and the stable Li plating/stripping cycling ...