Li metal has been intensively investigated as a next-generation rechargeable battery anode. However, its practical application as the anode material is hindered by the deposition of dendritic Li. To suppress dendritic Li growth, introducing a modified separator is considered an effective strategy since it promotes a uniform Li ion flux and strengthens thermal and mechanical stability. Herein, we present a strategy for the surface modification of separator, which involves coating the separator with a piezoelectric material (PM). The PM-coated separator shows higher thermal resistance than the pristine separator, and its modified surface properties enable the homogeneous regulation of the Li-ion flux when the separator is punctured by Li dendrite. Furthermore, PM was synthesized in different solvents via solvothermal method to explore the size effect. This strategy would be helpful to overcome the intrinsic Li metal anode problems.
Keywords: Li metal battery; piezoelectric material; separator modification; size effect.