Gas treatment protection of metallic lithium anode

The effects of different coating layers on lithium metal anode formed by reacting with different controlled atmospheres (argon, CO₂-O₂ (2:1), N₂, and CO₂-O₂-N₂ (2:1:3)) have been investigated. The obtained XRD, second ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), and scanning probe microscope (SPM) results demonstrate the formation of coating layers composed of Li₂CO₃, Li₃N, and the mixture of them on lithium tablets, respectively. The Li/Li symmetrical cell and Li/S cell are assembled to prove the advantages of the protected lithium tablet on electrochemical performance. The comparison of SEM and SIMS characterizations before/after cycles clarifies that an SEI-like composition formed on the lithium tablets could modulate the interfacial stabilization between the lithium foil and the ether electrolyte.