Surface Reconditioning of Lithium Metal Electrodes by Laser Treatment for the Industrial Production of Enhanced Lithium Metal Batteries

Incorporating lithium metal anodes in next-generation batteries promises enhanced energy densities. However, lithium's reactivity results in the formation of a native surface film, affecting battery performance. Therefore, precisely controlling the chemical and morphological surface condition of lithium metal anodes is imperative for producing high-performance lithium metal batteries. This study demonstrates the efficacy of laser treatment for removing superficial contaminants from lithium metal substrates. To this end, picosecond-pulsed laser radiation is proposed for modifying the surface of lithium metal substrates. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that different laser process regimes can be exploited to achieve a wide spectrum of surface morphologies. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirmed substantial reductions of approximate to 80% in oxidic and carbonaceous surface species. The contamination layer removal translated into interfacial resistance reductions of 35% and 44% when testing laser-cleaned lithium metal anodes in symmetric all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) with lithium phosphorus sulfur chloride (LPSCl) and lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (LLZO) solid electrolytes, respectively. Finally, a framework for integrating laser cleaning into industrial battery production is suggested, evidencing the industrial feasibility of the approach. In summary, this work advances the understanding of lithium metal surface treatments and serves as proof of principle for its industrial applicability. This study introduces a novel approach using pulsed laser radiation to improve the surface properties of lithium metal electrodes. Various laser regimes are exploited to modify the surface morphology of foil substrates and reduce surface contaminants. Symmetric batteries with solid and liquid electrolytes reveal superior performance through laser modification and its industrial applicability is confirmed by throughput and cost analysis. image