Recent Advances in Energy Chemistry between Solid-State Electrolyte and Safe Lithium-Metal Anodes

Because of the high capacity of lithium (Li) metal and the intrinsic safety of solid-state electrolyte, solid-state Li-metal batteries are regarded as a promising candidate for next-generation energy storage. However, uncontrollable dendrite growth and large interfacial resistance severely hamper the practical applications. This review summarizes the issues generated by the marriage of Li-metal anodes and solid-state electrolytes. First, the current challenges are underscored. Specific attention is paid to the large interfacial resistance, uncontrolled dendrite growth, and low operation current or capacity. The second section is dedicated primarily to understanding the ionic channels in the composite electrolyte and the space charge layers in the interfacial region. Based on these dilemmas and working principles, emerging strategies to render solid-state Li-metal batteries are summarized. Finally, the general conclusion and perspective on the current limitations and recommended research of solid-state Li-metal batteries are presented.