Electrode for metal batteries comprising a metal-storage host and metal batteries containing the same

Metal battery anode with suppressed dendrite growth using an aromatic lithium carboxylate host

This technology places a metal-storage host composed of metal-containing aromatic compounds, such as aromatic polycarboxylic acid metal salts, on a current collector. This provides uniform nucleation sites for metal ions and induces reversible plating and stripping to suppress dendrite growth.

Metal electrodes have historically suffered from dendrite growth due to uneven current distribution during charge and discharge cycles. These dendrites lead to electrolyte depletion, internal short circuits, volume expansion, and fire hazards, all of which limit battery lifespan.

This technology introduces an active material layer containing an aromatic polycarboxylic acid metal salt, such as lithium terephthalate, onto an anode current collector. It then forms an electrochemically plated metal thin film, just a few nanometers thick, to control the morphology of the plated metal and mitigate volume expansion. Applicable to lithium-metal batteries, anode-free cells, and high-energy-density power sources for drones and wearables, it reduces excess lithium usage while lowering short-circuit risks over long-term cycling.

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Key Features:

• An active material layer located on a current collector, comprising a metal-storage host made of a metal-containing aromatic compound
• A 3–18 nm thick lithium-containing metal thin film located on the active material layer and deposited via electrochemical methods
• Aromatic polycarboxylic acid lithium salt derived from one or more of phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, or naphthalenedicarboxylic acid
• A cathode spaced apart from the metal battery anode, and an electrolyte in contact with both the cathode and anode

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This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT for a single-ion conductor-based multidimensional free-form power system.

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