Nanomechanical measurements shed light on solid-state battery degradation

Abstract

Lithium-ion batteries have enabled the widespread use of portable electronic devices and are propelling the growing electric vehicle market, but new battery technologies with improved performance are necessary for emerging applications such as electric aircraft. The solid-state battery is one such technology that could exhibit enhanced safety and higher energy density compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries. The use of a pure lithium metal anode within solid-state batteries is key for higher energy density (Figure 1a), and it is thought that using solid-state electrolytes instead of conventional liquids could increase the chemical and structural stability of lithium metal.1 Despite continued progress in the development of new inorganic solid-state electrolyte materials; however, a persistent problem has emerged: lithium metal tends to grow as filaments during charging instead of as a flat film, and these filaments can penetrate and fracture the stiff solid-state electrolyte to short circuit the cell (Figure 1b).2-4 To prevent this chemo-mechanical degradation process and enable filament-free charging, it is critical to understand the mechanical properties of lithium metal, which have been elusive because of the highly reactive nature of lithium.