Chemically polished lithium metal anode for high energy lithium metal batteries

The formation of lithium dendrites during operation is a major issue that has prevented the practical application of lithium metal anode, which is considered one of the most promising anode materials for next generation lithium batteries. The formation of dendrites has been attributed to the non-uniform and locally high current densities resulting from the uneven dissolution and deposition of lithium, which is associated with the topographical and electrical inhomogeneity on lithium foil. Herein, we demonstrate a facile chemical polishing strategy to remove the pristine film on lithium foil to simplify the surface chemistry of lithium and enable uniform lithium deposition/dissolution during cycles, which can then effectively improve the electrochemical performance of lithium metal batteries.