Disclosure of Invention
The invention aims to overcome the defects that in the prior art, a lithium metal battery is easy to generate side reaction with electrolyte due to high activity, so that a surface interface film is unstable, dendrite growth, volume expansion, battery short circuit and safety accidents are further caused, and the traditional additive is difficult to meet the requirements of the stability and high ion conductivity of the surface interface film at the same time. The modified lithium metal electrode provided by the invention comprises a surface interface film containing lithium chloride and lithium nitride, has high compatibility with ether electrolyte, high electronic insulation, low ion diffusion barrier and excellent mechanical stability, remarkably inhibits the formation and growth of lithium dendrites, and effectively improves the cycle stability and safety performance of a battery when used for a lithium ion battery. The preparation method of the modified lithium metal electrode has the advantages of simple flow, easy control of reaction conditions, low-cost and easily obtained raw materials, and strong practical application prospect, and can be put into practical production.
The invention solves the technical problems by the following technical scheme:
The invention provides a modified lithium metal electrode, which comprises the lithium metal and a surface interface film attached to the surface of the lithium metal;
the surface interface film contains lithium chloride and lithium nitride;
in the modified lithium metal electrode, the content of Cl element is 0.4% -0.8%, and the percentage of the mass of Cl element is the percentage of the total mass of the modified lithium metal electrode;
in the modified lithium metal electrode, the content of N element is 0.4% -0.8%, and the percentage of the mass of N element is the percentage of the total mass of the modified lithium metal electrode.
In the scheme, the stability and ion conductivity of the surface interface film are optimized by selecting the content of Cl element and the content of N element, so that the method plays a key role in improving the cycling stability of the battery and inhibiting the growth of lithium dendrites.
Preferably, the thickness of the surface interface film is 1 μm to 100. Mu.m.
Further preferably, the thickness of the surface interface film is 1 μm to 4. Mu.m.
In the scheme, the thickness of the surface interface film ensures that the surface interface film can still maintain good ionic conductivity while effectively protecting the lithium metal electrode. The thinner surface interface film helps to improve the electrochemical performance of the battery and reduce the internal resistance of the battery.
Preferably, the content of the Cl element is 0.7% -0.8%.
Preferably, the content of the N element is 0.5% -0.6%.
Preferably, the lithium metal is a lithium foil.
Preferably, the lithium metal has a thickness of 195 μm to 499 μm, preferably 295 μm to 399 μm, for example 296 μm.
Preferably, the surface interface film further contains lithium oxide and lithium carbonate.
The invention also provides a preparation method of the modified lithium metal electrode, which is characterized by comprising the following steps of respectively placing ammonium chloride powder and lithium metal at the lower part and the upper part of a reaction container under the protection of inert gas and making the ammonium chloride powder and the lithium metal not contact with each other, and preparing the modified lithium metal electrode by a chemical vapor deposition method;
The distance between the lithium metal and the ammonium chloride powder is less than or equal to 5cm;
the temperature of the chemical vapor deposition is more than or equal to 100 ℃.
Preferably, the reaction vessel is a crucible.
Preferably, the reaction vessel is supported by a copper mesh and divided into an upper part and a lower part.
Further preferably, the mesh size of the copper mesh is 1 mesh to 60 mesh, for example 6 mesh.
Preferably, the inert gas is one or more of argon, helium or nitrogen, such as argon.
Preferably, the ammonium chloride powder is spread to a thickness of 0.2cm to 1cm.
Further preferably, the ammonium chloride powder is spread to a thickness of 0.4cm to 0.6cm or 0.6cm to 0.8cm.
Preferably, the distance between the lithium metal and the ammonium chloride powder is 1cm to 5cm, and more preferably 3cm to 5cm.
In this embodiment, the distance between the lithium metal and the ammonium chloride powder is a distance from the lower surface of the lithium metal to the upper surface of the ammonium chloride powder.
Preferably, the temperature of the chemical vapor deposition is 100 ℃ to 500 ℃.
Further preferably, the temperature of the chemical vapor deposition is 300 ℃ to 500 ℃.
Preferably, the chemical vapor deposition time is 1h to 4h.
Further preferably, the time of the chemical vapor deposition is 2h-3h or 3h-4h.
In the scheme, the time range of chemical vapor deposition can ensure the sufficient formation of the surface interface film on the premise of not damaging the performance of the lithium metal electrode.
Preferably, the chemical vapor deposition step is followed by a rinsing step.
Further preferably, in the step of flushing, the flushing liquid used is one or more of ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, dimethyl carbonate or diethyl carbonate.
Further preferably, the amount of rinse solution used in each of the rinsing steps is from 0.5mL to 2mL, for example from 1mL to 2mL.
Further preferably, the number of flushes is 1-10, for example 3-10.
Further preferably, the step of rinsing is followed by a step of drying.
Still more preferably, the drying time is from 5h to 24h, for example 12h.
Preferably, the lithium metal has a thickness of 200 μm to 500. Mu.m, preferably 300 μm to 400. Mu.m, for example 300. Mu.m.
Preferably, before the step of chemical vapor deposition, a film scraping treatment is performed on a side of the lithium metal, which is close to the ammonium chloride powder.
In the scheme, the film scraping treatment is carried out on one side of the lithium metal close to the ammonium chloride powder, so that the state of the surface of the lithium metal is further optimized, and a better foundation is provided for the deposition of the surface interfacial film.
Further preferably, the thickness of the scratch film treatment is 10 μm to 30 μm, for example 20 μm to 30 μm.
Further preferably, the step of the doctor blade treatment is performed in a glove box.
Further preferably, the treatment device for the film scraping treatment is a film scraper.
Further preferably, the step of the doctor blade treatment is performed under an inert gas.
Still more preferably, the inert gas is argon.
The invention also provides a modified lithium metal electrode, which is prepared by the preparation method.
The invention also provides a lithium ion battery comprising the modified lithium metal electrode.
The invention has the positive progress effects that:
(1) The surface interface film has greatly raised stability, and the surface interface film containing lithium chloride and lithium nitride is formed on the surface of the lithium metal electrode to raise the electronic insulating performance and mechanical stability of the electrode. The surface interfacial film can effectively inhibit the formation and growth of lithium dendrites, and reduce the risk of battery short circuit, thereby remarkably improving the safety of the battery. And the lithium metal electrode of the present invention has excellent compatibility with ether electrolyte, and the assembled battery exhibits excellent cycle stability and safety.
(2) The low ion diffusion barrier characteristic of the surface interface film of the invention makes the lithium ion transmission more efficient in the charge and discharge process, thereby improving the ion conductivity of the battery. This feature ensures the stability of the battery in long-term cyclic use, prolongs the service life of the battery and improves the performance thereof.
(3) The preparation method is simplified and low in cost, and the chemical vapor deposition technology adopted by the invention not only can accurately control the components of the surface interface film, but also has the characteristics of simplicity, easiness and low cost. The raw materials used in the preparation process are easy to obtain, the reaction conditions are easy to control, the large-scale production can be realized, and the method has strong industrial application potential.
Detailed Description
The invention is further illustrated by means of the following examples, which are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
In the following examples, the glove box was from Milkalona (Shanghai) Industrial Intelligent technologies Co., ltd, model number Super Pro 750.
In the following examples, lithium foil was obtained from Anhui Jin Yueguan New Material technology Co., ltd, model 10377-51-2, and thickness 300. Mu.m.
In the following examples, the crucible was obtained from Wilter ceramic technology Co., ltd (113X 55X 25 semicircle boat).
In the following examples, the electric heater is from Haidelf company, model 506-11100-05-0.
In the following examples, the copper mesh was obtained from the wire mesh products of the company Windwire (6 mesh brass wires) in the county of Anpingshand.
In the following examples, NH 4 Cl powder was obtained from Allatin Chemicals, inc., model 12125-02-9, and had a purity of 99.5%.
Example 1
The modified lithium metal electrode was prepared by the following method:
s1, treating lithium metal in a glove box (H 2O≤0.1ppm,O2 is less than or equal to 0.1 ppm) in an argon atmosphere by using a film scraping device, wherein the treatment thickness is 20 mu m, and the surface of the lithium metal can be observed to be brand-new metallic luster after the treatment.
S2, uniformly spreading 2gNH 4 Cl powder at the bottom of a crucible, wherein the spreading thickness D of NH 4 Cl powder is 0.2cm, and then placing the treated lithium foil above the crucible by using a copper net as a support, wherein the distance H between the lithium foil and NH 4 Cl powder is 1cm. And then slowly moving the crucible to an electric heater, heating for 1h at 100 ℃, naturally cooling to room temperature, repeatedly flushing with 1mL of electrolyte solvent ethylene glycol dimethyl ether (DME) for three times, and naturally drying for 12h to obtain the modified lithium metal electrode.
Example 2
Other parameters and preparation methods were the same as in example 1, except that the NH 4 Cl powder was spread to a thickness D of 0.4cm.
Example 3
Other parameters and preparation methods were the same as in example 1, except that the NH 4 Cl powder was spread to a thickness D of 0.6cm.
Example 4
Other parameters and preparation methods were the same as in example 1, except that the NH 4 Cl powder was spread to a thickness D of 0.8cm.
Example 5
Other parameters and preparation methods were the same as in example 1, except that the NH 4 Cl powder was spread to a thickness D of 1.0cm.
Example 6
Other parameters and preparation methods were the same as in example 1, except that the distance H between the lithium foil and the NH 4 Cl powder was 3cm.
Example 7
Other parameters and preparation methods were the same as in example 1, except that the distance H between the lithium foil and the NH 4 Cl powder was 5cm.
Example 8
Other parameters and preparation method were the same as in example 1, the crucible was slowly moved to an electric heater and heated at 300 ℃ for 1h.
Example 9
Other parameters and preparation method were the same as in example 1, the crucible was slowly moved to an electric heater and heated at 500 ℃ for 1h.
Example 10
Other parameters and preparation method were the same as in example 1, the crucible was slowly moved to an electric heater and heated at 300 ℃ for 2h.
Example 11
Other parameters and preparation method were the same as in example 1, the crucible was slowly moved to an electric heater and heated at 300 ℃ for 3 hours.
Example 12
Other parameters and preparation method were the same as in example 1, the crucible was slowly moved to an electric heater and heated at 300 ℃ for 4 hours.
Comparative example 1
The lithium foil was treated with a doctor blade in a glove box under argon atmosphere (H 2O≤0.1ppm,O2. Ltoreq.0.1 ppm) to a thickness of 20. Mu.m, and after the treatment, a novel metallic luster was observed on the lithium metal surface.
Effect example 1
SEM observation of the modified lithium metal electrode obtained in example 1 is carried out, and the results are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the modified lithium metal electrode prepared in example 1 had a surface interface film thickness of 4. Mu.m. From the surface SEM image of fig. 2, it can be seen that the surface interfacial film of the modified lithium metal electrode prepared in example 1 is uniformly distributed on the surface of lithium metal.
Effect example 2
EDS elemental analysis was performed on the modified lithium metal electrode prepared in example 1, and the corresponding distribution patterns of chlorine and nitrogen in FIG. 2 were fully confirmed that LiCl and Li 3 N were first generated, while it was also visually seen that the composite interface film prepared by chemical vapor deposition was in a state of uniform distribution of LiCl and Li 3 N components. The EDS spectrum shows that the modified lithium metal electrode prepared in example 1 has N and Cl contents of 0.7% and 0.5%, respectively.
Effect example 3
The modified lithium metal electrode prepared in example 1 and the lithium metal electrode prepared in comparative example 1 were assembled to a Li-Li symmetric battery by matching with a conventional ether electrolyte (DOL: dme= 1:1,1M LiTFSI+0.2M LiNO 3), and their electrochemical properties were tested under conditions of a current density of 0.5mA/cm 2 and 2mA/cm 2, and a limited capacity of 2mAh/cm 2. The sample test results of example 1 and comparative example 1 are shown in fig. 3, the gray part is the sample test data of example 1, and the black part is the sample test data of comparative example 1, and it can be seen that the li|li-symmetric battery assembled with the modified lithium metal electrode of example 1 exhibits low overpotential and more excellent cycle stability, and the li|li-symmetric battery assembled with the lithium metal electrode of comparative example 1, which has been subjected to only the surface scratch treatment, exhibits unstable potential fluctuation and poor cycle stability.
After 50 cycles of the symmetric cell, the cell was disassembled and SEM-characterized for the deposited sides of the lithium metal electrodes of example 1 and comparative example 1, the test results of example 1 are shown in fig. 4, the modified lithium metal electrode exhibiting a relatively uniform and flat surface, demonstrating uniform deposition of the composite interfacial film on the surface of the lithium foil. SEM characterization was also performed on the deposition side of the lithium metal electrodes of examples 2-12, resulting in a composite interfacial film deposited on the surface of the lithium foil, consistent with example 1. The test results of comparative example 1 are shown in fig. 5, and the surface of the lithium metal electrode exhibits large lithium particles and earthworm-like lithium dendrites.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this is by way of example only, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims. Various changes and modifications to these embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, but such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the invention.