Suppressing lithium dendrite via hybrid interface layers for high performance quasi-solid-state lithium metal batteries

[Display omitted] A three-dimensional LiCl/Li-Al hybrid protective layer is constructed on the lithium metal anode surface, which can effectively facilitate homogeneous Li+ flux distribution and induce even Li nucleation, leading to excellent dendrite inhibition ability and durable interface stability. •Li metal anode surface is modified by a simple salt solution pre-treatment strategy.•A 3D LiCl/Li-Al hybrid interface layers is in-situ constructed on Li metal surface.•The hybrid layer adjusts homogenous ions environment to induce stable Li deposition.•The quasi-solid-state lithium metal batteries deliver excellent cycle stability. The quasi-solid-state metal battery stands out as a promising candidate for the advancement of scalable, safe, and high-performance battery technologies. However, a major challenge remains in the form of short circuits arising from dendrite penetration, a consequence of uneven lithium deposition at the solid electrolyte/lithium anode interface. To address this issue, an in-situ constructed three-dimensional LiCl/Li-Al hybrid protective layer was implemented to inhibit the growth of dendrites. The enhanced interfacial dynamics were meticulously elucidated through a synergistic analysis of simulation and experimental results, highlighting the facilitation of Li+ flux distribution and uniform mass transfers introduced by the lithiophilic Li-Al alloy component. As a result, the modified Li anode enables stable Li stripping/plating cycling at a high current density of 1.0 mA·cm−2 and over 500 h at 0.2 mA·cm−2 for 0.2 mAh·cm−2 in the quasi-solid-state symmetric batteries. Additionally, the full cell with a LiFePO4 cathode maintains a high discharge capacity of 136.2 mAh/g after 400 cycles at 0.5C with a capacity retention of approximately 90 %. These findings demonstrate the application potential of Li anodes with a surface treatment for quasi-solid-state lithium metal battery applications.