Understanding the Chemomechanical Function of the Silver–Carbon Interlayer in Sheet-type All-Solid-State Lithium–Metal Batteries
Chaoshan Wu, Benjamin Emley, Lihong Zhao, Yanliang Liang, Qing Ai, Zhaoyang Chen, Francisco C. Robles Hernández, Fei Wang, Samprash Risal, Hua Guo, Jun Lou, Yan Yao, Zheng Fan
Abstract
All-solid-state batteries with lithium metal anodes hold great potential for high-energy battery applications. However, forming and maintaining stable solid–solid contact between the lithium anode and solid electrolyte remains a major challenge. One promising solution is the use of a silver–carbon (Ag–C) interlayer, but its chemomechanical properties and impact on interface stabilities need to be comprehensively explored. Here, we examine the function of Ag–C interlayers in addressing interfacial challenges using various cell configurations. Experiments show that the interlayer improves interfacial mechanical contact, leading to a uniform current distribution and suppressing lithium dendrite growth. Furthermore, the interlayer regulates lithium deposition in the presence of Ag particles via improved Li diffusivity. The sheet-type cells with the interlayer achieve a high energy density of 514.3 Wh L –1 and an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.97% over 500 cycles. This work provides insights into the benefits of using Ag–C interlayers for enhancing the performance of all-solid-state batteries.