Smart-flame-retarding layered composite Li negative electrode for safe Li metal battery

Haoying Qi; Lequan Deng; Yaoyao Liu; Zhaofen Wang; Lu Tan Dong; Jun Zhan; Xianglin Yin; Yushuang Yang; Haichen Huang; Xing Min Yu; Bo Fang; Peihua Zhu; Yuanhua Sang; Jian Jun Wang; Shuhua Wang; Zhaoke Zheng; Chao Gao; Hong Liu; Hao Chen

doi:10.1038/s41467-026-71069-9

Smart-flame-retarding layered composite Li negative electrode for safe Li metal battery

Haoying Qi
, Lequan Deng
, Yaoyao Liu (Corresponding Author)
, Zhaofen Wang
, Lu Tan Dong
, Jun Zhan
, Xianglin Yin
, Yushuang Yang
, Haichen Huang
, Xing Min Yu
, Bo Fang
, Peihua Zhu
, Yuanhua Sang
, Jian Jun Wang
, Shuhua Wang
, Zhaoke Zheng
, Chao Gao
, Hong Liu (Corresponding Author)
, Hao Chen (Corresponding Author)

Research output: Journal article publication › Journal article › Academic research › peer-review

Abstract

The high flammability problem of Li metal negative electrode has persistently impeded the safe application of energy-dense Li metal batteries. Conventional flame-retardant mixing strategy also fails in addressing this challenge because of the severe function-destroying corrosion reaction between flame retardant and Li metal. In this work, we propose a layered graphene oxide/flame retardant/lithiophilic ZnO layer/Li metal negative electrode for eliminating the corrosion between Li metal and flame retardant, while smartly releasing the thermal-triggered flame-retarding gases for covering and bonding with Li metal against combustion. This smart-flame-retard layered Li negative electrode afford 2677.78% prolonged battery cycle life than the pure Li negative electrode after 600 °C ignition, and 94.68% suppressed side reaction than conventional flame retardant-Li mixture during regular electrode operation. This resolution on the flammability challenge of Li metal negative electrode presents a meaningful advancement for safe Li metal battery construction.

Original language	English
Article number	4438
Journal	Nature Communications
Volume	17
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-71069-9
Publication status	Published - Dec 2026

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Chemistry
General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
General
General Physics and Astronomy

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Qi, H., Deng, L., Liu, Y., Wang, Z., Dong, L. T., Zhan, J., Yin, X., Yang, Y., Huang, H., Yu, X. M., Fang, B., Zhu, P., Sang, Y., Wang, J. J., Wang, S., Zheng, Z., Gao, C., Liu, H., & Chen, H. (2026). Smart-flame-retarding layered composite Li negative electrode for safe Li metal battery. Nature Communications, 17(1), Article 4438. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-71069-9

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title = "Smart-flame-retarding layered composite Li negative electrode for safe Li metal battery",

abstract = "The high flammability problem of Li metal negative electrode has persistently impeded the safe application of energy-dense Li metal batteries. Conventional flame-retardant mixing strategy also fails in addressing this challenge because of the severe function-destroying corrosion reaction between flame retardant and Li metal. In this work, we propose a layered graphene oxide/flame retardant/lithiophilic ZnO layer/Li metal negative electrode for eliminating the corrosion between Li metal and flame retardant, while smartly releasing the thermal-triggered flame-retarding gases for covering and bonding with Li metal against combustion. This smart-flame-retard layered Li negative electrode afford 2677.78\% prolonged battery cycle life than the pure Li negative electrode after 600 °C ignition, and 94.68\% suppressed side reaction than conventional flame retardant-Li mixture during regular electrode operation. This resolution on the flammability challenge of Li metal negative electrode presents a meaningful advancement for safe Li metal battery construction.",

author = "Haoying Qi and Lequan Deng and Yaoyao Liu and Zhaofen Wang and Dong, \{Lu Tan\} and Jun Zhan and Xianglin Yin and Yushuang Yang and Haichen Huang and Yu, \{Xing Min\} and Bo Fang and Peihua Zhu and Yuanhua Sang and Wang, \{Jian Jun\} and Shuhua Wang and Zhaoke Zheng and Chao Gao and Hong Liu and Hao Chen",

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AU - Qi, Haoying

AU - Deng, Lequan

AU - Liu, Yaoyao

AU - Wang, Zhaofen

AU - Dong, Lu Tan

AU - Zhan, Jun

AU - Yin, Xianglin

AU - Yang, Yushuang

AU - Huang, Haichen

AU - Yu, Xing Min

AU - Fang, Bo

AU - Zhu, Peihua

AU - Sang, Yuanhua

AU - Wang, Jian Jun

AU - Wang, Shuhua

AU - Zheng, Zhaoke

AU - Gao, Chao

AU - Liu, Hong

AU - Chen, Hao

PY - 2026/12

Y1 - 2026/12

N2 - The high flammability problem of Li metal negative electrode has persistently impeded the safe application of energy-dense Li metal batteries. Conventional flame-retardant mixing strategy also fails in addressing this challenge because of the severe function-destroying corrosion reaction between flame retardant and Li metal. In this work, we propose a layered graphene oxide/flame retardant/lithiophilic ZnO layer/Li metal negative electrode for eliminating the corrosion between Li metal and flame retardant, while smartly releasing the thermal-triggered flame-retarding gases for covering and bonding with Li metal against combustion. This smart-flame-retard layered Li negative electrode afford 2677.78% prolonged battery cycle life than the pure Li negative electrode after 600 °C ignition, and 94.68% suppressed side reaction than conventional flame retardant-Li mixture during regular electrode operation. This resolution on the flammability challenge of Li metal negative electrode presents a meaningful advancement for safe Li metal battery construction.

AB - The high flammability problem of Li metal negative electrode has persistently impeded the safe application of energy-dense Li metal batteries. Conventional flame-retardant mixing strategy also fails in addressing this challenge because of the severe function-destroying corrosion reaction between flame retardant and Li metal. In this work, we propose a layered graphene oxide/flame retardant/lithiophilic ZnO layer/Li metal negative electrode for eliminating the corrosion between Li metal and flame retardant, while smartly releasing the thermal-triggered flame-retarding gases for covering and bonding with Li metal against combustion. This smart-flame-retard layered Li negative electrode afford 2677.78% prolonged battery cycle life than the pure Li negative electrode after 600 °C ignition, and 94.68% suppressed side reaction than conventional flame retardant-Li mixture during regular electrode operation. This resolution on the flammability challenge of Li metal negative electrode presents a meaningful advancement for safe Li metal battery construction.

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JF - Nature Communications

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ER -

Smart-flame-retarding layered composite Li negative electrode for safe Li metal battery

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