Positive electrode for secondary lithium metal battery and method of making

An electrochemical cell for a secondary lithium metal battery, the electrochemical cell including:

• a negative electrode including:
• a metallic substrate having a major surface and a lithium metal layer disposed on the major surface of the metallic substrate;
• a positive electrode including:
• an aluminum metal substrate having a major surface, a protective layer disposed on the major surface of the aluminum metal substrate, and a positive electrode active material layer overlying the protective layer on the major surface of the aluminum metal substrate;
• and
• a nonaqueous electrolyte in ionic contact with the positive electrode and with the negative electrode,
• wherein the protective layer comprises a conformal aluminum fluoride coating layer, and
• wherein the non-aqueous electrolyte comprises a lithium imide salt.

A method of manufacturing a positive electrode for an electrochemical cell of a secondary lithium metal battery, the method including:

• providing an aluminum metal substrate having a major surface;
• forming a conformal aluminum fluoride coating layer directly on the major surface of the aluminum metal substrate;
• and then
• forming a positive electrode active material layer on the major surface of the aluminum metal substrate over the conformal aluminum fluoride coating layer.