Abstract Inhomogeneous lithium (Li) deposition leads to the formation of dendrites and “dead” Li, which is a limiting factor for the commercial success of Li metal batteries (LMBs). Herein, the sputter coating of Li metal electrodes by the sputter deposition method with lithiophilic metals, such as gold (Au) or zinc (Zn), was used in order to improve the electrochemical performance of Li metal electrodes. The structural characterization of such electrodes after the sputter deposition process indicated the presence of the corresponding Li-intermetallic phase (Li15Au4, LiZn) at the surface of the Li metal electrodes. Morphological investigations showed that the Li-intermetallic phases were able to steer the electrodeposition of Li beneath the Li-intermetallic coating, resulting in homogeneous dispersion of the Li deposits. The electrochemical measurements in symmetrical Li||Li cells also indicated reduced overvoltages. Up to a cycled capacity of 0.2825 mAh/cm2, these electrodes showed stable overvoltage for the lithium electrodissolution and electrodeposition process in comparison to pristine Li metal electrodes. Furthermore, in S8||Li cells, the overpotentials of sputter coated Li metal electrodes (Au@Li, Zn@Li) during operation are highly reduced compared to pristine Li metal electrodes. Thus, the results presented here, indicate that sputter coating of Li metal electrodes represents a promising approach to improve the performance of high energy LMBs through engineering of the Li metal interphase.

中文翻译：

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用亲锂金属溅射涂覆锂金属电极，用于均质和可逆的锂电沉积和电溶解

摘要 不均匀的锂 (Li) 沉积导致枝晶和“死”锂的形成，这是锂金属电池 (LMB) 商业成功的限制因素。在本文中，为了提高锂金属电极的电化学性能，使用亲锂金属（如金（Au）或锌（Zn））通过溅射沉积法对锂金属电极进行溅射涂层。溅射沉积过程后此类电极的结构表征表明，锂金属电极表面存在相应的锂金属间相（Li15Au4，LiZn）。形态学研究表明，锂金属间化合物相能够控制锂金属间化合物涂层下方的锂电沉积，从而导致锂沉积物的均匀分散。对称 Li||Li 电池的电化学测量也表明过电压降低。循环容量高达 0.2825 mAh/cm2，与原始锂金属电极相比，这些电极在锂电溶解和电沉积过程中表现出稳定的过​​电压。此外，在 S8||Li 电池中，与原始锂金属电极相比，在操作过程中溅射涂覆的锂金属电极（Au@Li、Zn@Li）的过电位大大降低。因此，这里呈现的结果表明，锂金属电极的溅射涂层代表了一种通过锂金属界面工程提高高能 LMB 性能的有前途的方法。与原始锂金属电极相比，这些电极在锂电溶解和电沉积过程中表现出稳定的过​​电压。此外，在 S8||Li 电池中，与原始锂金属电极相比，在操作过程中溅射涂覆的锂金属电极（Au@Li、Zn@Li）的过电位大大降低。因此，这里呈现的结果表明，锂金属电极的溅射涂层代表了一种通过锂金属界面工程提高高能 LMB 性能的有前途的方法。与原始锂金属电极相比，这些电极在锂电溶解和电沉积过程中表现出稳定的过​​电压。此外，在 S8||Li 电池中，与原始锂金属电极相比，在操作过程中溅射涂覆的锂金属电极（Au@Li、Zn@Li）的过电位大大降低。因此，这里呈现的结果表明，锂金属电极的溅射涂层代表了一种通过锂金属界面工程提高高能 LMB 性能的有前途的方法。