Rechargeable lithium metal batteries (LMBs) with high energy densities can be achieved by coupling a lithium metal anode (LMA) and a LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) cathode. Nevertheless, Li dendrite growth on the LMA surface and structural collapse of the NCM811 material, closely tied with the fragile cathode-/solid-electrolyte interphases (CEI/SEI) and corrosive hydrogen fluoride (HF), seriously deteriorate their performances. Herein, trimethylsilyl trifluoroacetate (TMSTFA) as a multifunctional electrolyte additive is proposed for regulation of the CEI/SEI films and elimination of HF. For one thing, the TMSTFA-derived CEI film rich in C-O species is conductive to Li+ transport and structural stability of NCM811 materials, and the TMSTFA-derived SEI film mainly consisting of inorganics (Li2CO3 and LiF) and organics (C-O and O-C═O species) can significantly promote Li+ homogeneous deposition and impede the Li dendrite growth. For another thing, the undesired reactions of the solvents and LiPF6 salt are effectively retarded by the TMSTFA additive. Consequently, in the presence of TMSTFA, the capacity retention of Li/NCM811 cell is increased by 17% after 200 cycles at 1C, and the lifespan of symmetrical Li/Li cells is prolonged beyond 600 h at 0.5 mA cm-2.
Keywords: electrode−electrode interphases; electrolyte additive; electrolyte stabilization; lithium metal batteries; trimethylsilyl trifluoroacetate.