Exploring semisolid liquid metal anode for lithium-ion battery

Abstract

Due to their high surface tension and mobility, liquid metals present a challenge for direct coating onto current collectors. Herein, the researchers prepared a semisolid liquid metal by mixing GaInSn liquid metal with copper particle fillers. This semisolid liquid metal's viscosity is suitable for coating and strongly bonding with the current collector without a binder. Though promising, the lithium storage performance of such semisolid liquid metals has remained largely unexplored. The electrodes displayed favorable electrical conductivity and a high initial discharge capacity of 214 mAh g⁻¹. Their discharge process involved a self-healing mechanism through the liquid-state transformation of the active component, analogous to metallic liquid systems. This work overcame the persistent liquid metal coating difficulty by modulating viscosity while revealing their notable lithium storage capabilities.