As the most successfully commercialized batteries, lots of research and improvements are applied to lithium-ion batteries with graphite as an anode, which makes them gradually reach their practical specific energy density limit.

As a promising anode material candidate, lithium metal anode has a high theoretical capacity, low density, and low redox potential. However, during the charge and discharge cycling of the lithium metal anode, the formation of Li dendrites and unstable solid electrolyte interphase not only raises the safety concern but limits their cycling performance.

In order to counter these challenges, the artificial protective layer could be applied to the lithium metal anode. An ideal artificial protective layer should have high ionic conductivity, high electronic resistivity, chemical stability, and high mechanical properties. Some researchers already noticed that the artificial protective layer with high Young's modulus could suppress the growth of dendrite. However, Young's modulus is only one aspect of mechanical properties, other mechanical properties of the artificial protective layer did not attract much focuses.

We have a hypothesis that an artificial protective layer with high yield stress can dramatically constrain the growth of dendrites even in relatively low Young's modulus. We believe that the combination of polymer and inorganic nanomaterials could create an artificial protective layer with considerable Young's modulus and high yield stress. The combination of PVDF-HFP and boron nitride nanotubes are being investigated. The relationship between the mechanical property of the artificial protective layer and the stability of lithium anode could be investigated by this project, which could be helpful to improve lithium anode batteries.