Theoretically, lithium metal anodes are the optimal negative electrodes. In practice, several obstacles arising from the extreme lithium reactivity limit their applications. The surrounding environment in principle can modify lithium electronic structure, which determines its reactivity. For this purpose, a variety of electrolyte chemistries (liquid, solid, polymer, gel) have been and are continuously tested. Moreover, the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) that results from electron transfer from the anode to the electrolyte is usually a multicomponent film expected to exert a protective role controlling the high reactivity of the anode. The SEI is extremely sensitive to the chemistry of the electrolyte, but also to the structure of the anode. Here we discuss some interesting chemistries such as those arising in lithium-sulfur batteries on the SEI formation, for typical liquid electrolytes containing high salt concentrations and their effects on ion complexation near the surface and Li electrodeposition reactions.Our first-principles analysis is complemented with experimental in situ observations.

Interfacial reactions at the surface of Li metal anodes of Li-S batteries: Effects of high salt concentration

2019 Spring National Meeting

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