Dual-gradient metal layer for practicalizing high-energy lithium batteries

Mengyu Tian, Ronghan Qiao, Guanjun Cen, Li Tian, Liubin Ben, Hailong Yu, Michael Volder, Chenglong Zhao, Qidi Wang () and Xuejie Huang ()
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Mengyu Tian: Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory
Ronghan Qiao: Zhongguancun
Guanjun Cen: Zhongguancun
Li Tian: Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory
Liubin Ben: Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory
Hailong Yu: Zhongguancun
Michael Volder: Department of Engineering University of Cambridge
Chenglong Zhao: Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen
Qidi Wang: Southern University of Science and Technology
Xuejie Huang: Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Pairing high-energy nickel-rich cathodes with current collectors as anodes presents a compelling strategy to significantly boost the specific energy of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, driving progress toward a transportation revolution. However, the limited active lithium inventory sourced by the cathodes tend to be rapidly consumed by irreversible Li plating/stripping and interfacial side reactions. To address these limitations, we propose a dual-gradient metal layer as an innovative solution to mitigate active Li loss by promoting uniform Li deposition and in situ formation of a stable solid electrolyte interphase. The operation of these batteries is investigated using a combination of electrochemical and chemical techniques to differentiate dead Li and interphase-bound Li inventory loss as well as material characterization methods to analyse the plated Li and interfacial composition and morphology. The developed dual gradient metal layer-based 600 mAh LiNi0.9Co0.05Mn0.05O2 | |Cu pouch cells achieve an areal capacity of 7.25 mAh cm−2 and deliver an 80% capacity retention over 160 cycles. We show that the proposed approach is compatible with a range of different metal materials, offering a promising path toward next generation long-lasting, high-energy, initially active material-free anode based Li metal batteries.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62163-5

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