Cover Story (view full-size image): Silicon-based and lithium metal anodes are regarded as the candidates of next-generation electrode materials for Li-ion and metallic lithium batteries. However, the unstable interfacial reactions between the anode and electrolyte continuously consume lithium ions, resulting in serious capacity degradation. Severe anode volume change also leads to structural decay during extended cycles. To tackle the aforementioned drawbacks, lithium silicates were adopted to serve as the stabilizer in anodes. This review introduces the properties and mechanisms of lithium silicates in anodes, showing their application potential in high-energy-density batteries. View this paper.
The structural and interfacial stability of silicon-based and lithium metal anode materials is essential to their battery performance. Scientists are looking for a better inactive material to buffer strong volume change and suppress unwanted surface reactions of these anodes during cycling. Lithium silicates formed in situ during the formation cycle of silicon monoxide anode not only manage anode swelling but also avoid undesired interfacial interactions, contributing to the successful commercialization of silicon monoxide anode materials. Additionally, lithium silicates have been further utilized in the design of advanced silicon and lithium metal anodes, and the results have shown significant promise in the past few years. In this review article, we summarize the structures, electrochemical properties, and formation conditions of lithium silicates. Their applications in advanced silicon and lithium metal anode materials are also introduced.
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