Tailoring copper interfaces for high quality and performance thin electrodeposited lithium metal anodes

Lithium metal anode (LMA) is considered a key component for next-generation high-energy-density batteries due to its high theoretical capacity (3860 mAh g⁻¹) and low electrochemical potential (−3.04 V vs. standard hydrogen electrode). Among the strategies to harness its full potential, implementing low lithium excess is particularly promising, enabling competitive practical energy density values at lower cost. However, the widespread adoption of LMAs remains limited due to performance challenges associated with cell performance and limitations in conventional lithium production processes. This study explores electrodeposition as a viable approach to fabricate thin LMAs. Particularly, the effect of substrate modifications via magnetron sputtering is systematically investigated, demonstrating that the interaction between the sputtered metal and lithium directly influences the morphology and surface composition of the electrodeposited lithium, and, ultimately, the electrochemical performance of the cell. This work highlights electrodeposition as a promising alternative process for producing high-quality and thin LMAs suitable for high energy density lithium metal batteries.