Research Area

The lithium metal subgroup focuses on the lithium metal anode fundamental science aiming to enable next-generation high-energy lithium metal batteries. The research area of the lithium metal subgroup includes but not limits to investigating the lithium metal failure mechanism from chemical, physical and mechanical perspectives, designing strategies to improve lithium metal performances and stability, including studying the reactivity of different electrolyte systems with Li and optimizing physical and electrochemical cycling parameters for Li metal anode. A variety of state-of-the-art characterization tools are utilized, including Titration Gas Chromatography, Cryogenic Electron Microscope, Cryogenic Focused Ion Beam, etc. The lithium metal subgroup currently has one postdoctoral researcher Wurigumula Bao and two Ph.D. students, Bingyu Lu and Diyi Cheng.

The cause and solution for the Li metal problems. The continuous formation of inactive Li is the direct cause of low CE, safety hazards and cell expansion in Li metal batteries. Liwhiskers with large tortuosity and heterogeneous SEI will facilitate the inactive Li formation and cause a series of problems; whereas if the deposited Li possesses a chunky morphology with minimal tortuosity and homogeneous SEI, the inactive Li formation will be significantly reduced, resulting in high CE.

Highlighted Publications:

1. C. Fang, J. Li, M. Zhang, Y. Zhang, F. Yang, J. Z. Lee, M. Lee, J. Alvarado, M. A. Schroeder, Y. Yang, B. Lu, N. Williams, M. Ceja, L. Yang, M. Cai, J. Gu, K. Xu, X. Wang & Y. S. Meng, “Quantifying inactive lithium in lithium metal batteries“, Nature, 2019, 572, 511–515

2. C. Fang, X. Wang, and Y. S. Meng, “Key Issues Hindering a Practical Lithium-Metal Anode” Trends in Chemistry, 2019, 1, 152

3. C. Fang, B. Lu, Y. S. Meng et al. “Pressure-tailored lithium deposition and dissolution in lithium metal batteries”, Under Review

4. B. Lu, Y. S. Meng et al. “Quantitatively Designing Porous Copper Current Collectors for Lithium Metal Anode”, Under Review