Superior cycle performance of Li metal electrode with {110} surface texturing

Li metal foil is a most promising candidate for Li metal batteries, but its poor cycle stability remains a major obstacle limiting its development for practical applications. In the present work, we show that crystallographic orientation (surface texturing) of Li foil plays a key role in determining the cycle performance of the Li metal anode in both symmetrical cells and full cells. Li foil of {110} texturing is demonstrated to have superior cycling stability when compared to Li {100} or pristine Li foils without specific texturing. Experimental evidence and computational modeling suggest that the enhanced cycle performance of Li {110} originates from the low-surface energy/surface diffusion barrier associated with the Li {110} plane, leading to not only dense Li plating but also uniform stripping during cycling. Capacity retention of 96.1% (125.0 mAh/g) after 400 cycles is demonstrated in a full cell with Li {110} anode and LiFePO₄ cathode at 1 C. This work adds to the current understanding of electrochemical plating/stripping of Li metal, and leads to new technologies that can largely extend the cycle life of Li metal electrode for the next generation of energy storage devices. (Figure presented.).