Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are ultra-thin organic films capable of precisely tailoring the physical and chemical properties of substrate surfaces. In this study, we demonstrate that introducing anisotropic morphology into the substrate effectively guides the lateral diffusion of SAM molecules along predefined directions during the self-assembly process, thereby reducing random molecular orientation at the macroscale. Notably, amplified optical signals obtained through liquid crystal (LC) texture analysis were used to visualize defects arising from molecular alignment within the SAM, while a multi-level analysis of surface energy, molecular packing density, and alignment quality further enhanced the precision of LC-based texture interpretation. These findings demonstrate that the proposed bottom-up strategy is broadly applicable across a wide range of alkyl chain lengths and may serve as a versatile platform for advanced electronic and optoelectronic substrate applications. ⓒ 2025 Elsevier B.V.

Mitigating lithium (Li) corrosion during both storage and cycling is crucial for the performance of lithium-metal polymer batteries (LMPBs), as these systems undergo repeated storage and operation. Despite this, research has predominantly focused on enhancing cycling, often neglecting storage stability. Here, we demonstrate that a polymer electrolyte containing LiTFSI/LiBF4 and FEC (D-LiBF4 FEC) significantly improves both corrosion resistance and cycling stability. The D-LiBF4 FEC electrolyte forms a dense, LiF-rich solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) during storage, effectively reducing polymer decomposition and enhancing long-term performance in repeated cycling-storage conditions. In contrast, conventional LiTFSI/LiBOB and LiTFSI/LiDFOB systems fail to maintain prolonged cycling life after storage, as their organic-rich SEIs exacerbate Li corrosion. Our multi-faceted analysis―including depth-profiling X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron micrography, and electrochemical studies―highlights the critical role of a high LiF-to-organic ratio in the SEI. We further propose a representative cycling-storage protocol, under which our LMPBs demonstrated over 1,500 hours of operation at 0.3 mA cm？2 and achieved an extended lifespan of 10,000 hours for continuous cycling at 0.1 mA cm？2 at room temperature. These findings underscore the importance of addressing Li corrosion during storage periods and provide key strategies for designing polymer electrolytes to improve Li-metal electrode performance. ⓒ 2025