Electrode, method for manufacturing the same, and lithium metal battery comprising the same

Lithium metal anode with high-speed lithium-ion replenishment via multidirectionally dispersed ZnO core/lithium-alloy shell nanorods

This technology disperses lithium-affinity metal or metal-oxide-based 1D nanorod structures within a lithium matrix to accelerate the replenishment of lithium ions from the electrode interior to the interface, while maintaining stable interfacial contact area.

Lithium metal anodes have historically suffered from uneven lithium deposition, leading to dendrite growth and the formation of voids at the electrode-electrolyte interface. These issues cause short circuits and limit both battery lifespan and energy efficiency.

This technology involves mixing and reacting lithium-affinity metal oxide nanoparticles, such as ZnO or TiO2, with lithium above its melting point to create nanorod structures consisting of an oxide core and a Li-metal alloy/Li2O shell, which are then dispersed in multiple directions within the lithium matrix. These nanorods, which exhibit high ionic conductivity along their length, serve as internal diffusion pathways that simultaneously reduce interfacial voids and dendrite formation. Applicable to both sulfide/oxide-based all-solid-state batteries and liquid-electrolyte lithium-metal batteries, this internal anode structure effectively compensates for contact loss issues common at solid interfaces.

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Key Features:

• Multiple lithium-ion conductive 1D structures dispersed in various directions within a lithium matrix
• 1D structures featuring a lithium-affinity metal oxide core and a shell containing an alloy of that metal and lithium
• Nanorods with a high aspect ratio, exhibiting higher lithium-ion conductivity along their length than their width
• Process of obtaining an electrode by mixing lithium-affinity metal oxide nanoparticles with lithium metal above the melting point of lithium, followed by cooling

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