Effect of pulse-current-based protocols on the lithium dendrite formation and evolution in all-solid-state batteries

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

Authors

  • Volker Reisecker
  • Florian Flatscher
  • Lukas Porz
  • C. Fincher
  • I. Hanghofer
  • V. Hennige
  • M. Linares-Moreau
  • P. Falcaro
  • Steffen Ganschow
  • Sigurd Wenner
  • Y. M. Chiang
  • Jürgen Fleig
  • Daniel Rettenwander

Organisational units

External Organisational units

  • Technische Universität Graz
  • Norwegian University of Science and Technology
  • Department of Materials Science & EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Erich Schmid Institute of Materials Science
  • AVL List GmbH
  • Leibniz-Institut für Kristallzüchtung
  • Institute of Materials Science and Technology
  • Sintef Industry, Department of Materials and Nanotechnology

Abstract

Understanding the cause of lithium dendrites formation and propagation is essential for developing practical all-solid-state batteries. Li dendrites are associated with mechanical stress accumulation and can cause cell failure at current densities below the threshold suggested by industry research (i.e., >5 mA/cm2). Here, we apply a MHz-pulse-current protocol to circumvent low-current cell failure for developing all-solid-state Li metal cells operating up to a current density of 6.5 mA/cm2. Additionally, we propose a mechanistic analysis of the experimental results to prove that lithium activity near solid-state electrolyte defect tips is critical for reliable cell cycling. It is demonstrated that when lithium is geometrically constrained and local current plating rates exceed the exchange current density, the electrolyte region close to the defect releases the accumulated elastic energy favouring fracturing. As the build-up of this critical activity requires a certain period, applying current pulses of shorter duration can thus improve the cycling performance of all-solid-solid-state lithium batteries.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number2432
Number of pages12
JournalNature Communications
Volume14.2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 27 Apr 2023