Lithium Metal Batteries Under Extreme Conditions—From Temperature Resilience to Cycling Stability

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) offer unparalleled energy density, making them promising candidates for next-generation energy storage. However, their deployment in extreme conditions—ranging from subzero temperatures to high-rate cycling—remains challenging. LESC group recently made progress in electrolyte design and cycling strategies that enable LMBs to perform reliably under these demanding environments. We demonstrate a novel liquefied gas electrolyte (LGE) system, which combines fire-extinguishing properties with high ionic conductivity across a wide temperature range (-78°C to +80°C). This LGE supports stable lithium cycling at over 99% Coulombic efficiency, ensuring safety and sustainability at extreme temperatures. As for the cycling stability of LMBs, we explore the impact of cycling protocols on LMB performance, revealing that slow charging and fast discharging optimize lithium deposition beneath the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI). This strategy enhances cycle stability and improves Coulombic efficiency, extending battery lifespan under high-rate discharge conditions, which are critical for electric vehicle applications. These innovations address fundamental challenges in LMB, providing a pathway toward broader adoption in high-demand, extreme-condition environments.