Stable operation of rechargeable lithium-based batteries at low temperatures is important for cold-climate applications, but is plagued by dendritic Li plating and unstable solid–electrolyte interphase (SEI). Here, we report on high-performance Li metal batteries under low-temperature and high-rate-charging conditions.
However, commercially available lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) show significant performance degradation under low-temperature (LT) conditions. Broadening the application area of LIBs requires an improvement of their LT characteristics.
Previous attempts to improve the low-temperature performance of lithium-ion batteries 4 have focused on developing additives to improve the low-temperature behaviour of electrolytes 5, 6, and on externally heating and insulating the cells 7, 8, 9.
Two main approaches have been proposed to overcome the LT limitations of LIBs: coupling the battery with a heating element to avoid exposure of its active components to the low temperature and modifying the inner battery components. Heating the battery externally causes a temperature gradient in the direction of its thickness.
High-performance lithium metal batteries operating below −20 °C are desired but hindered by slow reaction kinetics. Here, the authors uncover the temperature-dependent Li+ behavior and interphase formation in liquid electrolytes and provide directions to enhance the low temperature performance.
LIBs can store energy and operate well in the standard temperature range of 20–60 °C, but performance significantly degrades when the temperature drops below zero [2, 3]. The most frost-resistant batteries operate at temperatures as low as −40 °C, but their capacity decreases to about 12% .