Synergistic Effects of Inorganic–Organic Protective Layer for Robust Cycling Dendrite-Free Lithium Metal Batteries

The advantages in high theoretical capacity and low electrochemical potential have made Li metal one of the most promising anode materials satisfying the surging requirement of high energy density for the next-generation batteries. However, safety issues caused by the Li dendrite growth during cycling have greatly thwarted its application. Herein, a hybrid artificial protective layer, constructed by the one-step method through chemical reactions between Li metal and 1H,1H,1H,2H-perfluorodecyltrimethoxysilane, is demonstrated to guide Li deposition and protect lithium batteries from the destruction of Li dendrites. A synergistic effect of the inorganic and organic components in the protective layer significantly enhances the electrochemical performance of symmetric Li|Li and Li|LiFePO4 cells. This work provides a facile, simple, and scalable method to design a hybrid artificial protective layer for long-lifespan Li metal batteries.