Advances in Lithium-Containing Anodes of Aprotic Li-O-2 Batteries: Challenges and Strategies for Improvements

Lithium metal for rechargeable aprotic Li-O-2 batteries is considered one of the most fascinating anode materials that can deliver high theoretical specific capacity, low density, and low negative electrochemical potential. Although lithium-metal anodes have been studied extensively for decades, the cycling performance of rechargeable aprotic Li-O-2 batteries based on lithium-metal anodes is rather poor because of the unresolved security issues related to lithium dendrites and contaminant (O-2, H2O) crossover from cathode to anode. Here, the critical issues and challenges facing lithium-containing anodes associated with the security, stability, and efficiency are analyzed. Moreover, the latest research progress and strategies used to improve the performance of aprotic Li-O-2 batteries based on lithium-containing anode are reviewed. Perspectives toward the development of highly stable lithium-containing anodes are also presented.