Invited Presentation: Lithium Metal Anode: Challenges and Opportunities

Research on lithium metal combined with polymer electrolyte in lithium rechargeable batteries was started in 1979. Since that time, battery research has expanded worldwide. Several new polymers, solid electrolytes and ionic liquids with improved conductivity were identified. These advances resulted from a better understanding of the major parameters controlling ion migration, such as favorable polymer structure, phase diagram between solvating polymer and lithium salt, and the development of new lithium counter-anions.  In spite of the progress so far, the quest for a highly conductive dry polymer at room temperature is still not available. However, effort is continuing, and all-lithium polymer battery (LPB) developers presently face the challenge of whether to heat the polymer electrolyte to enable high-power performance, as required for electric vehicle and energy storage. LPB developers have explored both the high-temperature and low-temperature options.

This presentation discusses the challenges and opportunities in developing thin lithium metal with stable SEI as negative electrode for three battery technologies using:

1. Batteries made from dry polymer and ionic liquid-polymer electrolytes for

rechargeable lithium batteries

2. All solid-state Li-sulfur batteries

            3.  Li-air batteries.

In addition, we will discuss the safety of lithium, dendrite mechanism, interface phenomena, side reactions, protection of lithium metal, and lithium alloys.