Innovative nanofiber network paves the way for next-gen lithium metal batteries
image: The Li₂CO₃-incorporated PVDF nanofiber network (Cu/PVDF-Li₂CO₃) was developed using the electrospinning method. This nanofiber network acts as a lithium host, effectively suppressing dendrite formation and enhancing cycling stability under low N/P ratio conditions.
Credit: Nano Research, Tsinghua University Press
As demands grows for high-energy density batteries, especially for the next technology electric aviation where over 400 Wh/kg is required, current lithium-ion cells limited to 300 Wh/kg are no longer enough. Lithium metal anodes offer a promising alternative with much higher energy potential. However, many designs use extra lithium to make up for losses during use, which lowers efficiency, raises safety concerns, and adds to production costs. To solve this, researchers are working on thinner lithium layers to create batteries that are lighter, safer and more energy-dense for future technologies.
A team led by Afriyanti Sumboja from Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia, has developed 3D nanofiber networks using PVDF mixed with Li₂CO₃ to create a stable host for lithium metal. This design effectively reduces lithium thickness while addressing the safety risks typically associated with lithium metal anodes. The material is fabricated using electrospinning, a technique known for its compatibility with large-scale, industry-friendly production.
The team published their research article in Nano Research on August 30, 2025.
“In this study, we introduce our team’s recent work on developing a 3D nanofiber network as a stable lithium metal host for next-generation lithium metal batteries,” said Afriyanti Sumboja, lead author of the study and Associate Professor at Institut Teknologi Bandung in Indonesia. “By incorporating Li₂CO₃ into PVDF nanofibers through electrospinning, we achieved a structure that not only enhances lithium-ion diffusion and electrolyte wettability but also ensures uniform lithium deposition. This design enables stable cycling performance even with reduced lithium thickness, addressing one of the key challenges in creating high-energy-density batteries with low N/P ratios. Our approach offers a scalable and practical solution for advancing lithium metal battery technology toward real-world applications.”
The PVDF/Li₂CO₃ nanofiber network is a composite material engineered by integrating lithium carbonate into polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) fibers through electrospinning. This structure forms a porous, three-dimensional scaffold that serves as a stable host for lithium metal. The inclusion of Li₂CO₃ lowers the crystallinity of PVDF and improves electrolyte wettability, which facilitates better lithium-ion transport and uniform lithium deposition. These combined properties make the PVDF/Li₂CO₃ nanofiber network a highly promising material for advancing lithium metal batteries, particularly in applications that demand both high energy density and long-term cycling stability.
The research team outlines the advantages of the PVDF/Li₂CO₃ nanofiber network in enhancing lithium metal battery performance. “The nanofiber networks also confine the lithium dendrites, which the main culprit of low cycle life in lithium metal batteries,” said Afriyanti Sumboja. “With nanofiber networks, our lithium metal batteries kept over 70% of its original power after 200 charging cycles, while the conventional lithium metal batteries stopped working after just 60.” The results mark a strong step toward safer, more powerful batteries for everyday use.
The research team expects this research to spur the development of PVDF-based nanofiber designed for stable lithium metal host, challenging the limit of Lithium based battery energy density.
The research team expects this study to drive further innovation in PVDF-based nanofiber materials engineered for stable lithium metal hosts, ultimately pushing the energy limits of lithium-based batteries. “This design not only improves battery stability but also opens new possibilities for safer and more efficient energy storage systems in the future,” said Afriyanti Sumboja
Other contributors include Hilmy Nur Hidayat, Alda and Hadziq A Haidar, are from Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia. Naufal Hanif Hawari and Qingyu Yan are from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Naufal Hanif Hawari, Qiang Zhu, and Ning Ding are from Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), Singapore.
This work was supported by Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) on behalf of Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, and managed under INSPIRASI Program (Contract No. 6635/E3/KL.02.02/2023).
About Nano Research
Nano Research is a peer-reviewed, open access, international and interdisciplinary research journal, sponsored by Tsinghua University and the Chinese Chemical Society, published by Tsinghua University Press on the platform SciOpen. It publishes original high-quality research and significant review articles on all aspects of nanoscience and nanotechnology, ranging from basic aspects of the science of nanoscale materials to practical applications of such materials. After 18 years of development, it has become one of the most influential academic journals in the nano field. Nano Research has published more than 1,000 papers every year from 2022, with its cumulative count surpassing 7,000 articles. In 2024 InCites Journal Citation Reports, its 2024 IF is 9.0 (8.7, 5 years), and it continues to be the Q1 area among the four subject classifications. Nano Research Award, established by Nano Research together with TUP and Springer Nature in 2013, and Nano Research Young Innovators (NR45) Awards, established by Nano Research in 2018, have become international academic awards with global influence.