Effect of Separator Structure on Lithium Metal Batteries

Rechargeable lithium (Li) metal batteries with conventional intercalation cathodes have been considered as the next-generation energy storage systems for transportation and smart grid applications because of their high theoretical energy densities. Although great successes have been reported in recent years, the two major issues related to Li metal anode, dendrite growth and low Coulombic efficiency, still hinder the practical applications of Li metal batteries. Among the components in Li metal batteries, the separator has been considered to be a relatively inert component and its effect on performances of Li metal batteries has seldom been investigated. In our recent studies, we found that the microstructure of the separator has a significant influence over the Li deposition behavior, and consequently, the cycling performance of Li metal batteries. In this talk, the effects of separator structure on Li metal anode and Li metal batteries will be discussed with the combination of experimental and simulation results.