The increasing demand for batteries is mainly driven by the electrification of transport. In this context, achieving high gravimetric and volumetric energy densities (ED) in batteries is particularly important. The use of solid-state batteries (SSBs) offers several advantages, such as improved ED, higher operational safety, extended shelf life, and higher C-rates. In addition, the use of solid electrolytes allows the use of metallic anodes, such as lithium and silicon anodes which helps achieving the primary objective of increasing the energy density. Furthermore, technologies will be developed that also take into account environmental and economic aspects.
A key factor in increasing the ED is to minimize the amount of lithium by using thin films (< 10 μm). The aim of this research is to develop a manufacturing process for the production of thin lithium metal anodes on various metal current collectors at a high deposition rate. A physical vapor deposition process, magnetron sputtering, is used to coat not only lithium, but also silicon with layers of less than 10 μm thickness. As a result of this study, the optimum parameters for the production of anodes using different collector materials have been determined. In order to be able to use the anodes mentioned in sulfide-based solid-state batteries, the interfaces between electrolyte and anode should be adjusted so that side reactions between the components are suppressed. For this purpose, protective layers are used, which also simplify the handling of the metallic anodes. In the next step these anodes will be characterized in terms of their mechanical and electrochemical properties. As a result, recommendations will be formulated for the use of different types of current collector foils on the anode side in SSB, which can be adapted to new anode and cathode chemistries in the future.