Speaker
Description
The practical application of lithium metal batteries (LMBs) is primarily challenged by the unstable interface between the lithium metal anode (LMA) and conventional electrolytes, leading to dendritic lithium growth and low Coulombic efficiency. While localized high-concentration electrolytes (LHCEs) mitigate these issues by modulating solvation structures, their cluster configurations and interfacial stability require further optimization. This study designs a novel localized high-concentration high-entropy electrolyte (LHCHEE) specifically for LMBs. We systematically investigate the solvation chemistry and reveal that the high-entropy effect fosters the formation of robust, anion-coordinated clusters with enhanced uniformity and stability. This unique solvation structure promotes the preferential decomposition of anions, facilitating the construction of a highly inorganic-rich, robust solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on the LMA. Consequently, symmetric Li||Li cells with the LHCHEE achieve exceptional cycling stability with ultra-low polarization, while Li||Cu cells demonstrate significantly improved Coulombic efficiency. Furthermore, full cells paired with high-voltage cathodes exhibit remarkable capacity retention. This work underscores the critical role of entropy in engineering solvation clusters and provides a groundbreaking strategy for stabilizing lithium metal anodes.
