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Gradient-Resistivity 3D Current Collectors for Lithium Dendrite Suppression



Author(s)

Changmyeon Lee^1,2, Jun-mi Jeon², Hideo Honma³, Osamu Takaic³ and Joo-Hyong Noh^1,3

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DOI:10.17265/2161-6213/2024.7-9.003

1. Graduate School of Engineering, Kanto Gakuin University, Yokohama 236-8501, Japan
2. Industrial Components R&D Department, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Incheon 21996, South Korea
3. Materials and Surface Engineering Research Institute, Kanto Gakuin University, Yokohama 236-8501, Japan

Lithium metal batteries provide high theoretical energy density and storage capacity but suffer from performance degradation and safety issues due to lithium dendrite formation. This research designed a resistivity gradient structure based on a 3D porous current collector to inhibit dendrite growth. Through a UV (ultraviolet) inactivation process, catalyst formation at the upper layers was suppressed, limiting the upper copper plating and enhancing plating toward the lower part during the electroless plating stage. Subsequently, electroplating was performed to increase the copper thickness. Experimental results showed that this gradient-resistivity current collector minimized the surface lithium deposition, which blocks pores. The charge-discharge stability evaluation demonstrated that batteries using this gradient structure exhibited higher stability and improved performance in full-cell and symmetrical-cell tests. This study presents significant technological progress toward commercializing lithium metal batteries.

3D porous current collectors, resistivity gradient, lithium metal batteries, electroless plating, UV-catalyst inactivation.