Breakthrough in Supramolecular Research: Developing Low-Temperature Tolerant Lithium Metal Batteries

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from Nanjing University have made significant progress in developing a solution for low-temperature tolerant lithium metal batteries. Their research, published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2025, presents a coordinatively cross-linked metallo-supramolecular polymer as anodic interfacial protective layer (MSP-IPL) that can effectively inhibit lithium dendrite proliferation and enhance the battery's cyclability and rate capability.

Key Takeaways:

  • The research team, led by Cheng-Hui Li, developed a coordinatively cross-linked metallo-supramolecular polymer (MSP-IPL) using titanium(IV)-polyoxometalates (Ti-POMs) as hexatopic linkers to bridge organic and inorganic moieties.
  • The constructed MSP-IPL possesses high electrochemical stability, superior ion-transfer ability, and good air stability, making it an effective anodic interfacial protective layer.
  • The research concluded that the MSP-IPL-coated Li anodes demonstrated impressive cyclability and extraordinary rate capability, with high-loading Li||LiFePO4 and Li||LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 batteries.
  • The MSP-IPL showed excellent reprocessability and self-healing ability, accommodating electrode volume changes and maintaining good interface contact.
  • The research provides a promising solution for developing practical low-temperature tolerant lithium metal batteries.

Statistics:

  • The MSP-IPL-coated Li anodes showed a capacity retention of 86.8% after cycling stably for over 500 cycles (equivalent to 138 days) at a low temperature of -20 degrees C.
  • The batteries demonstrated impressive cyclability and extraordinary rate capability, making them suitable for various applications.
  • The research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province.
  • The researchers, led by Cheng-Hui Li, included Yaoda Wang, Pei-Chen Zhao, Jingjie Sun, Junchuan Liang, Tianyu Shen, and Zhong Jin.

Sources:

  • Titanium-polyoxometalate Crosslinked Metallo-supramolecular Polymer As Artificial Interfacial Layer for Highly Persistent and Low-temperature Tolerant Lithium Metal Batteries. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2025. DOI: 10.1002/(ISSN)1521-3773 (Online library: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1521-3773)
  • Cheng-Hui Li et al. New Findings in Supramolecular Research Described from Nanjing University (Titanium-polyoxometalate Crosslinked Metallo-supramolecular Polymer As Artificial Interfacial Layer for Highly Persistent and Low-temperature Tolerant Lithium Metal ...). Nanotechnology Weekly. July 28, 2025; p 2169.