Patent attributes
A disclosed battery may include an anode, a polymeric network disposed over one or more exposed surfaces of the anode, a cathode positioned opposite to the anode, an electrolyte at least partially dispersed throughout the cathode, and a separator. The anode may include an alkali metal that can release alkali ions during operational discharge-charge cycling of the battery. The polymeric network may include carbonaceous materials grafted with fluorinated polymer chains cross-linked with each other. The fluorinated polymer chains may produce an alkali-metal containing fluoride in response to operational cycling of the battery. Formation of the alkali-metal containing fluoride may suppress alkali metal dendrite formation from the anode such that lithium is consumed to form lithium fluoride rather than forming lithium-containing dendritic structures. The separator may be positioned between the anode and the cathode.