Institute of New Energy for Vehicles, Shanghai Key Lab. of D&A for Metal-Functional Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China.
Key Laboratory of Advanced Civil Engineering Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China.
Chem Soc Rev. 2023 Apr 24;52(8):2553-2572. doi: 10.1039/d2cs00606e.
Lithium (Li) metal, owing to its high specific capacity and low redox potential as a Li ion source in rechargeable lithium batteries, shows impressive prospects for electrochemical energy storage. However, engineering Li metal into thin foils has historically remained difficult, owing to its stickiness and fragility upon mechanical rolling. Consequently, using thick Li in battery systems betrays the original target for achieving higher energy density, results in material waste, and creates illusions on evaluating modification strategies for taming the highly reactive Li metal anode. Being apprehensive of this, in the tutorial review, we illustrate the argument of applying thin Li (<50 μm, preferably ≤30 μm) to achieve more realistic and advanced battery systems. A brief overview of Li is sketched first to help understand its role in batteries. Then, the reasons for pursuing thin Li are critically analyzed. Next, seminal technologies enabling the fabrication of thin Li are summarized and compared, which calls for the participation of experts from mechanical engineering, metallurgy, electrochemistry, and other fields. Subsequently, the possible applications of thin Li in batteries are presented. With the deployment of thin Li, there are new challenges and opportunities to encounter and an outlook is afforded thereof. Holy-grail Li metal anodes, combined with the subtraction operation in thickness and compatible modification strategies, would bring about a truly great leap forward in electrochemical energy storage.
锂（Li）金属作为可充电锂电池中的锂离子源，具有高比容量和低氧化还原电位的特点，在电化学储能方面具有广阔的应用前景。然而，由于其在机械轧制过程中的粘性和脆性，将锂金属工程化为薄箔一直具有挑战性。因此，在电池系统中使用较厚的 Li 会违背实现更高能量密度的最初目标，导致材料浪费，并对驯服高反应性 Li 金属阳极的改性策略的评估产生错觉。鉴于此，在本教程综述中，我们阐述了应用薄 Li（<50μm，最好≤30μm）以实现更实际和先进电池系统的观点。首先概述了 Li 的作用，以帮助理解其在电池中的作用。然后，批判性地分析了追求薄 Li 的原因。接下来，总结了实现薄 Li 的关键技术，并对它们进行了比较，这需要机械工程、冶金、电化学等领域的专家参与。随后，介绍了薄 Li 在电池中的可能应用。随着薄 Li 的应用，将会遇到新的挑战和机遇，并对其进行了展望。圣杯 Li 金属阳极，结合厚度减法操作和兼容的改性策略，将为电化学储能带来真正的巨大飞跃。
