Artificial Solid‐Electrolyte Interphase Enabled High‐Capacity and Stable Cycling Potassium Metal Batteries

Abstract

Abstract Secondary batteries based on earth‐abundant potassium metal anodes are attractive for stationary energy storage. However, suppressing the formation of potassium metal dendrites during cycling is pivotal in the development of future potassium metal‐based battery technology. Herein, a promising artificial solid‐electrolyte interphase (ASEI) design, simply covering a carbon nanotube (CNT) film on the surface of a potassium metal anode, is demonstrated. The results show that the spontaneously potassiated CNT framework with a stable self‐formed solid‐electrolyte interphase layer integrates a quasi‐hosting feature with fast interfacial ion transport, which enables dendrite‐free deposition of potassium at an ultrahigh capacity (20 mAh cm −2 ). Remarkably, the potassium metal anode exhibits an unprecedented cycle life (over 1000 cycles, over 2000 h) at a high current density of 5 mA cm −2 and a desirable areal capacity of 4 mAh cm −2 . Dendrite‐free morphology in carbon‐fiber and carbon‐black‐based ASEI for potassium metal anodes, which indicates a broader promise of this approach, is also observed.