Figure 3: Well-confined stripping/plating behaviour of the Li-coated PI matrix.
From: Lithium-coated polymeric matrix as a minimum volume-change and dendrite-free lithium metal anode
Top-view SEM images of (a) the exposed top fibres of the Li-coated PI electrode after stripping away 5 mAh cm−2 Li; (b) exposed top fibres partially filled with Li when plating 3 mAh cm−2 Li back and (c) completely filled PI matrix after plating an additional 2 mAh cm−2 Li back (current density 1 mA cm−2, in EC/DEC). The polymeric matrix ensures that Li is dissolved and deposited from the underlying conductive Li substrate and, as a result, Li is effectively confined into the matrix. (d) Schematic illustrating the alternative undesirable Li stripping/plating behaviour where, after stripping, Li nucleate on the top surface, leading to volume change and dendrites shooting out of the matrix. Scale bars, 5 μm.
