Effects of Atmospheric Gases on Li Metal Cyclability and Solid-Electrolyte Interphase Formation

For Li-air batteries, dissolved gas can cross over from the air electrode to the Li metal anode and affect the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation, a phenomenon that has not been fully characterized. In this work, the impact of atmospheric gases on the SEI properties is studied using electrochemical methods and ex situ characterization techniques, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The presence of O₂ significantly improved the lithium cyclability; less lithium is consumed to form the SEI or is lost because of electrical disconnects. However, the SEI resistivity and plating overpotentials increased. Lithium cycled in an "air-like" mixed O₂/N₂ environment also demonstrated improved cycling efficiency, suggesting that dissolved O₂ participates in electrolyte reduction, forming a homogeneous SEI, even at low concentrations. The impact of gas environments on Li metal plating and SEI formation represents an additional parameter in designing future Li-metal batteries.