Two universities in the United States use PDMS layer to reduce the generation of lithium metal branches in lithium metal batteries

According to foreign media reports, lithium-ion batteries are one of the most promising battery products for high-density energy storage technology. Today, researchers at Arizona State University and colleagues at Rice University use a 3D polydimethylsiloxane layer or a silicone layer as a substrate for lithium metal anodes to alleviate the formation of lithium crystal branches.

According to Hanqing Jiang, a professor of materials transmission and energy at Arizona State University, the method may extend battery life to eliminate the safety risks of lithium-ion and lithium-air batteries and can be used in metal anode batteries.

Jiang said that his and his research team did not focus on finding new materials or electrochemical performance, which is what mechanical engineers do. They took a different approach and focused on stress, because stress itself is one of the factors in the growth of lithium crystal branches.

The study included the addition of a layer of PDMS below the battery anode to “significantly reduce” lithium crystal growth. According to the researchers, the above factors are directly related to the cumulative stress inside the lithium metal, and the wrinkles-like PDMS substrate will play a positive role in relieving stress.

In addition, the research team has devised a new method for PDMS substrates that utilizes its multi-faceted three-dimensional structure to extend the life of lithium metal batteries while maintaining their high energy density.