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Constructing a stable artificial solid-electrolyte interphase has become one of the most effective strategies to overcome the poor reversibility of lithium metal anode, yet the protection role is still insufficient at elevated current densities over 10 mA cm−2 and large areal capacities over 10 mAh cm−2. Herein, we propose a dynamic gel with reversible imine groups, which is prepared via a cross linking reaction between flexible dibenzaldehyde-terminated telechelic poly(ethylene glycol) and rigid chitosan, to fabricate a protective layer for Li metal anode. The as-prepared artificial film shows combined merits of high Young's modulus, strong ductility and high ionic conductivity. When the artificial film is fabricated on a lithium metal anode, the thin protective layer shows a dense and uniform surface owing to the interactions between the abundant polar groups and lithium metal. Besides, the polar groups in the artificial film can homogenize the distribution of Li+ at the electrode/electrolyte interface. As a result, cycle stability over 3200 h under an areal capacity of 10 mAh cm−2 and a current density of 10 mA cm−2 has been obtained for the protected lithium metal anodes. Moreover, cycling stability and rate capability has been also improved in the full cells. Achieving stable lithium metal anodes under large current densities over 10 mA cm−2 and area capacities over 10 mAh cm−2 remains a critical challenge. Here, authors propose a dynamic gel as protect layer for lithium metal anode to facilitate with the Young's modulus, flexibility and ionic conductivity, thus to stabilize the lithium metal anode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sluggish lithium diffusion at the electrode/electrolyte interface is one of the main obstacles to achieve superior rate capability of Li metal anodes for rechargeable batteries. Herein, a dense and uniform inorganic solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer composed of ZrO2, Li2O, Li3N, and LiNxOy is constructed on the surface of Li metal via the spontaneous reaction between Li metal and zirconyl nitrate (ZrO(NO3)2) solution in dimethyl sulfoxide. The abundant grain boundaries in the artificial SEI created by the multicomponent enable the rapid diffusion of Li ions at the interface. As a result, the Li metal anode treated with zirconyl nitrate (LiZrO(NO3)2@Li) delivers a stable cycle performance of over 550 h at a high current density of 10 mA cm−2 and a high areal capacity of 10 mAh cm−2. When paired with a high‐loading LiCoO2 cathode (19 mg cm−2), the LiZrO(NO3)2@Li anode shows much enhanced rate performance and long‐term cycle stability without Li dendrite formation. The construction of an inorganic SEI layer with a high density of grain boundary provides new insights for the design of high‐rate and dendrite‐free Li metal anodes for high‐energy‐density batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dissolution of LiNO3 in carbonate electrolytes is achieved by introducing pyridine as a new carrier solvent owing to its higher Gutmann donor number than NO3−. The Li metal anode in LiNO3-containing carbonate electrolyte demonstrates a much enhanced reversibility due to the preferential reduction of LiNO3 and the formation of an inorganic-rich SEI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]