ABSTRACT Li‐metal batteries (LMBs) emerge as the “holy grail” of energy storage owing to their high energy density contributed by the Li‐metal anode. In this study, lithium ditelluride (Li 2 Te 2 ) is introduced as an electrolyte additive, yielding lithium telluride (Li 2 Te) on the Li‐metal anode (LMA), establishing a quasi‐decoupled interface that reduces electrolyte decomposition. To create an aggressive and high Gutmann donor number environment, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is employed as a solvent in the electrolyte. Lithium nitrate (LiNO 3 ) is initially used as an additive to protect the LMA surface from DMSO; however, the Li‐metal interface modified by LiNO 3 cannot block the electron transfer between high donor DMSO and LMA. Owing to its low formation enthalpy (−101.94 kJ mol −1 ), Li 2 Te 2 spontaneously converts to Li 2 Te upon contact with Li, effectively blocking electron transfer from DMSO through its large bandgap (E g = 2.549 eV) and minimal Bader charge transfer (−0.044 |e|). Li 2 Te establishes a quasi‐decoupled interface that electronically isolates Li from the DMSO. In addition, Li 2 Te exhibits strong lithiophilic and Li + conductive characteristics, which drive the dendrite‐free electrodeposited morphology. Introduction of Li 2 Te 2 additive in DMSO‐based electrolyte enhances the cycling stability of LMA in half‐cells and full‐cells, whereas the cells fail without Li 2 Te 2 .
Kim et al. (Wed,) studied this question.