Red Phosphorous-Derived Protective Layers with High Ionic Conductivity and Mechanical Strength on Dendrite-Free Sodium and Potassium Metal Anodes

Sodium metal anodes are ideal candidates for advanced high energy density Na metal batteries. Nevertheless, the unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), the uncontrollable dendrite growth, and low Coulombic efficiency during cycling have prevented their applications. Herein, a high-performance Na anode is achieved by introduction of an ex situ artificial Na3P layer on the surface via a simple red phosphorus pretreatment method. The artificial SEI layer possesses high ionic conductivity and high Young's modulus, which regulates uniform deposition of ions and prevents the dendrite growth. Benefiting from these merits, the Na||Na cells with the protected layers demonstrate excellent electrochemical performance (780 h at 1.0 mA cm(-2), 1.0 mAh cm(-2)). When assembled into a full battery with a Na3V2(PO4)(3) cathode, the Na metal battery exhibits a long lifespan of 400 cycles at 15 C and a high rate capacity of approximate to 53.2 mAh g(-1) at 30 C. In addition the red P pretreatment method can be applied to potassium metal anodes. Outstanding performance is also achieved in K||K cells with the formation of a KxPy protecting layer (550 h at 0.5 mA cm(-2), 0.5 mAh cm(-2)). The artificial P-derived protection approach can also be extended to solid-state alkali metal batteries with high power density and energy density.

Automated summary

Introduction of an artificial Na3P layer on the surface of sodium metal anodes can achieve high-performance Na anodes by preventing dendrite growth and improving electrochemical performance. This method can also be applied to potassium metal anodes and extended to solid-state alkali metal batteries with high power density and energy density.