Review on Li Deposition in Working Batteries: From Nucleation to Early Growth

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) Vol. 33; no. 8; pp. e2004128 - n/a
• Main Authors: Chen, Xiao‐Ru, Zhao, Bo‐Chen, Yan, Chong, Zhang, Qiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.02.2021
• Subjects: Anodes; Crystallography; dendrite inhibition; Dendritic structure; Deposition; Electrochemical analysis; Electrode materials; Energy storage; Lithium; lithium dendrite growth; lithium deposition; lithium metal batteries; Materials science; Morphology; Nucleation; Space charge; Storage batteries; Surface diffusion; nucleation; lithium deposition; lithium dendrite growth; dendrite inhibition; lithium metal batteries
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202004128

Lithium (Li) metal is one of the most promising alternative anode materials of next‐generation high‐energy‐density batteries demanded for advanced energy storage in the coming fourth industrial revolution. Nevertheless, disordered Li deposition easily causes short lifespan and safety concerns and thus severely hinders the practical applications of Li metal batteries. Tremendous efforts are devoted to understanding the mechanism for Li deposition, while the final deposition morphology tightly relies on the Li nucleation and early growth. Here, the recent progress in insightful and influential models proposed to understand the process of Li deposition from nucleation to early growth, including the heterogeneous model, surface diffusion model, crystallography model, space charge model, and Li‐SEI model, are highlighted. Inspired by the abovementioned understanding on Li nucleation and early growth, diverse anode‐design strategies, which contribute to better batteries with superior electrochemical performance and dendrite‐free deposition behavior, are also summarized. This work broadens the horizon for practical Li metal batteries and also sheds light on more understanding of other important metal‐based batteries involving the metal deposition process. Lithium (Li) nucleation and early growth processes significantly determine the final deposition behavior. The recent progress in influential models proposed to understand the process of Li nucleation and early growth is highlighted. Inspired by the abovementioned understanding, diverse anode‐design strategies, which contribute to better batteries with superior electrochemical performance and dendrite‐free deposition behavior, are also summarized.