Rechargeable battery and electrolysis method of making the same

A rechargeable lithium metal battery comprising:

• a negative electrode, the negative electrode having a conductive substrate coated with a layer of lithium metal, the layer of lithium metal having an inner face and an outer face, the inner face contacting the conductive substrate;
• a positive electrode;
• a solid electrolyte comprising a lithium ion conductive copolymer coating the outer face of the lithium metal, the lithium ion conductive copolymer having microphase separated first domains and second domains, each domain above its respective glass transition temperature, Tg, the first domains formed from lithium ion solvating segments and providing continuous conductive pathways for the transport of lithium ions and the second domains formed from second segments immiscible with the first segments, the copolymer being selected from the group consisting of a block copolymer and a graft copolymer;
• and
• a lithium salt dispersed within the solid electrolyte;
• wherein the solid electrolyte is disposed between the negative electrode and the positive electrode, and is in direct physical contact with both the layer of lithium metal and the cathode,
• wherein the lithium metal battery is configured to interact with an external circuit so that during discharge:
• the layer of lithium metal decreases in thickness, and the copolymer coating conforms its shape to continue to cover the thinning layer of lithium metal, and to accommodate any volume changes that may occur at the positive electrode,
• wherein the lithium metal battery is configured to interact with the external circuit so that during electrolytic recharging:
• a voltage applied across the external circuit causes the layer of lithium metal to grow in thickness, and the copolymer coating to adjust shape to continue to cover the growing layer of lithium metal, and to accommodate any volume changes that may occur at the positive electrode.