The portfolio of materials accessible by atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes has encompassed all key components of electrochemical energy storage (EES) – cathodes, anodes, solid electrolytes, and interphases. This provides a rich environment in which to advance the science of EES, particularly due to the exceptional thickness and conformality control inherent in underlying ALD mechanisms. Here we highlight three regimes where ALD is most promising to impact battery technology. (1) ALD-based electrode protection layers seem to offer the shortest term technology impact, providing ion permeability while serving as passivation against the varied modes chemical, electrochemical, and mechanical degradation regularly found in batteries, improving cycle life and suppressing dendrite formation. (2) ALD-based solid state batteries offer benefits in structural simplicity and control well beyond that available in commercial devices employing sputtered films. ALD solid electrolytes play a critical role in both protection layers and solid state batteries. (3) 3D solid state batteries exploit high surface areas and thin conformal layers over high aspect ratio topography to achieve higher power-energy performance than planar counterparts. Examples illustrating these opportunities include ALD LiPON protection of metal anodes and conversion electrodes, new pathways to solid electrolyte synthesis, and planar and 3D solid state batteries employing ALD for most or all components.

Supported as part of the Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC) Nanostructures for Electrical Energy Storage (NEES), funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences under award number DESC0001160.