FePS3 derived ion-conductive interfacial layers enabling dendrite-free lithium metal anodes

Lithium metal, with its high theoretical capacity and lowest redox potential, is ideal for battery chemistry, yet dendrite formation and non-uniform deposition pose key challenges for lithium metal anodes. Herein, by using a facile, environmentally friendly, and solvent-free in-situ tribological method, the FePS3 nanosheets were successfully grafted onto the lithium foil as an interface layer. The interfacial layer, consisting of a FePS3 outlayer and an inner composite of lithium polysulfides, lithium polyphosphides, and thiophosphates, facilitates the rapid transport and uniform distribution of lithium ions for lithium metal anode. The as-prepared lithium metal anode (Li@FePS3) enhances transport kinetics while alleviates volume strain with the ion-conductive interfacial layer, which achieves uniform and dense lithium deposition. The Li@FePS3 symmetric cells exhibit a long cycling performance of over 3300 h with high stability. The Li@FePS3 anode-based full cells show a long cycling life of more than 300 cycles at a 1C rate, and a capacity retention of up to 89.66 %, even if the mass loading of the LiFePO4 cathode is as high as 12 mg/cm2. This good interface design provides a new strategy for stabilizing lithium metal electrodes and is expected to promote the development of high-performance lithium batteries.