High-energy-density lithium metal batteries (LMBs) are limited by reaction or diffusion barriers with dissatisfactory electrochemical kinetics. Typical conversion-type lithium sulfur battery systems exemplify the kinetic challenges. Namely, before diffusing or reacting in the electrode surface/interior, the Li(solvent)x + dissociation at the interface to produce isolated Li+, is usually a prerequisite fundamental step either for successive Li+ "reduction" or for Li+ to participate in the sulfur conversions, contributing to the related electrochemical barriers. Thanks to the ideal atomic efficiency (100 at%), single atom catalysts (SACs) have gained attention for use in LMBs toward resolving the issues caused by the five types of barrier-restricted processes, including polysulfide/Li2S conversions, Li(solvent)x + desolvation, and Li0 nucleation/diffusion. In this perspective, the tandem reactions including desolvation and reaction or plating and corresponding catalysis behaviors are introduced and analyzed from interface to electrode interior. Meanwhile, the principal mechanisms of highly efficient SACs in overcoming specific energy barriers to reinforce the catalytic electrochemistry are discussed. Lastly, the future development of high-efficiency atomic-level catalysts in batteries is presented.
Keywords: electrochemical diffusion kinetics; interfacial desolvation; lithium metal batteries; single atom catalyst; tandem catalysis.
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