Effect of the formation rate on the stability of anode-free lithium metal batteries

Anode-free Li-ion batteries (AFBs), where a Cu current collector is used to plate and strip Li instead of a classic anode, are promising technologies to increase the energy density of batteries.  In addition, AFBs are safe and easier to manufacture than competing Li-metal anodes and solid-state batteries.  

The loss of Li inventory that occurs during the operation of AFBs, however, limits their lifespan and practical application.  In the paper 'Effect of the Formation Rate on the Stability of Anode-Free Lithium Metal Batteries', published in ACS Energy Letters, the authors found that the current density used during the formation of AFBs had a considerable impact on the cycling stability of the cell.  

The authors optimised the formation protocol based on experimental and computational observations of thresholds associated with morphological changes in the plated Li and the chemical composition of the solid-electrolyte interphase.  Unlike graphite anodes, which require slow formation cycles, AFBs exhibit improved cycling behaviour when formed at the highest current densities that avoid dendritic Li formation.

The authors are able to verify that their strategy for optimising the formation current density is effective for three different electrolyte formulations, and that it therefore provides a straightforward universal rationale to optimise the formation protocols for AFBs.