{
  "abstract": "Lithium metal anodes (LMAs) are central to next-generation high-energy batteries, but extreme air sensitivity hinders their commercialization. Expanding the allowable air-exposure window would let LMAs use existing Li-ion battery manufacturing infrastructure. Here we show that a two-step protocol of prolonged dry pretreatment followed by brief controlled air exposure engineers a mechanically robust surface reaction layer (SRL) on Li metal. Insufficient pretreatment yields a poorly adherent SRL that delaminates on air exposure, whereas optimal pretreatment yields a composite oxide/hydroxide/carbonate SRL that accommodates growth-induced compressive stress (20–290 MPa) by wrinkling rather than delaminating. This wrinkled, adherent SRL promotes uniform Li deposition and improved electrochemical stability: full cells built with the optimally processed anode maintain stable cycling performance up to 1,300 cycles with higher sustained capacity than cells using as-received Li. These findings establish the chemo-mechanical principles governing SRL evolution during air exposure and provide practical guidelines for handling LMAs under realistic atmospheric conditions.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Ga Yeon Lee"
    },
    {
      "name": "Dongeun Gu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jeong Ho Choi"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sung Hyo Cho"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sun Jae Kim"
    },
    {
      "name": "Seunghyeon Kwon"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hee Jin Bak"
    },
    {
      "name": "Heeyeong An"
    },
    {
      "name": "Suk Jun Kim",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4172-7818"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a8ppa39g9dh9n.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.26434/chemrxiv.15008090/v1",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "a8ppa39g9dh9n",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008090/v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2208|Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7204746819",
  "pdf_url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/pdf/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008090/v1",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-08-31",
  "publisher": "American Chemical Society (ACS)",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a8ppa39g9dh9n.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:17Z",
      "native_id": "10.26434/chemrxiv.15008090",
      "source": "chemrxiv",
      "url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008090/v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "source:chemrxiv",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Turning Air Exposure into an Advantage for Lithium Metal Anodes",
  "title_text": "Turning Air Exposure into an Advantage for Lithium Metal Anodes",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:17Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a8ppa39g9dh9n",
  "venue": "ChemRxiv",
  "versions": []
}