Future prospects of the lithium metal anode

Though rechargeable lithium batteries with a lithium metal anode have a high energy density compared with lithium-ion batteries with a carbon insertion anode, the poor rechargeability of the lithium anode prevents the practical use of such batteries. In this paper, several approaches studied in the author's former laboratory at Kyoto University, have been reviewed in order to improve such poor rechargeability. Poor rechargeability is caused by the formation of lithium dendrites during the charge process. The dense and thin bilayer film of LIF and Li2O formed on the deposited lithium by the addition of the small amounts of HF and H2O in the electrolyte may be effective for the suppression of the dendritic formation of lithium. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science S.A.