Due to the ultrahigh theoretical capacity (3860 mAh g^-1) and the low electrochemical potential (-3.04 V vs. standard hydrogen electrode) of lithium-metal anode, lithium metal batteries (LMBs) are becoming a promising candidate for the next-generation energy storage system. However, lithium metal is extremely reactive with most organic solvents, leading to fragile solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), lithium dendrites and low coulombic efficiency (CE).Recently, Prof. Chengliang Wang and Prof. JingMa(from Nanjing University)reported a novel method toregulate the solvation sheath by utilizing intermolecular hydrogen bonds, consequently leading to dendrite-free and high-performance LMBs.

Conventionally, lithium ions tend to interact with solvent molecules and anions and form solvation sheath, which would be reduced firstly and turn into main component of SEI. But the fragile and inhomogeneous SEI would lead to the propagation of lithium dendrites. Herein, Prof. Chengliang Wang and co-workers propose a novel strategy to regulate the solvation sheath of typical electrolyte systems, through introducing intermolecular hydrogen bonds by adding small amount additives (1,3,5-triformylphloroglucinol (TFP). Depending on the hydrogen bond with solvent and anions, the TFP additivescan effectively stabilize the solvents and promote the formation of robust SEI. The resulted high-quality SEI leadsto homogeneous lithium deposition and high-performance LMBs.

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation etc.

Paper Link:https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/anie.202101976

Website of Prof. Chengliang Wang’s group:http://flexbatt.oei.hust.edu.cn/index.htm