《A "Tug-of-war" Effect Tuned Li Ion Transport Enhances Rate Capability of Lithium Metal Batteries》

“Solvent-in-salt” electrolytes (high-concentration electrolytes (HCEs)) and diluted high-concentration electrolytes (DHCEs) show great promise for reviving secondary lithium metal batteries (LMBs). However, the inherently sluggish Li+ transport of such electrolytes limits the high-rate capability of LMBs for practical conditions. Here, we discovered a “tug-of-war” effect in a multilayer solvation sheath that promoted the rate capability of LMBs; the pulling force of solvent–nonsolvent interactions competed with the compressive force of Li+-nonsolvent interactions. By elaborately manipulating the pulling and compressive effects, the interaction between Li+ and the solvent was weakened, leading to a loosened solvation sheath. This design concept for an electrolyte provides a promising path to build high-energy-density and high-rate LMBs.

https://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2023/SC/D2SC06620C#!