Spontaneous and field-induced crystallographic reorientation of metal electrodeposits at battery anodes
Top Cited Papers
Open Access
- 1 June 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science Advances
- Vol. 6 (25), eabb1122
- https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abb1122
Abstract
The propensity of metal anodes of contemporary interest (e.g., Li, Al, Na, and Zn) to form non-planar, dendritic morphologies during battery charging is a fundamental barrier to achievement of full reversibility. We experimentally investigate the origins of dendritic electrodeposition of Zn, Cu, and Li in a three-electrode electrochemical cell bounded at one end by a rotating disc electrode. We find that the classical picture of ion depletion-induced growth of dendrites is valid in dilute electrolytes but is essentially irrelevant in the concentrated (>= 1 M) electrolytes typically used in rechargeable batteries. Using Zn as an example, we find that ion depletion at the mass transport limit may be overcome by spontaneous reorientation of Zn crystallites from orientations parallel to the electrode surface to dominantly homeotropic orientations, which appear to facilitate contact with cations outside the depletion layer. This chemotaxis-like process causes obvious texturing and increases the porosity of metal electrodeposits.Funding Information
- U.S. Department of Energy (DE-SC0012673)
- U.S. Department of Energy (DE-SC0016082)
This publication has 52 references indexed in Scilit:
- Reversible epitaxial electrodeposition of metals in battery anodesScience, 2019
- Investigation of the temperature-dependent behaviours of Li metal anodeChemical Communications, 2019
- Designing Artificial Solid-Electrolyte Interphases for Single-Ion and High-Efficiency Transport in BatteriesJoule, 2017
- In situ detection of lithium metal plating on graphite in experimental cellsJournal of Power Sources, 2015
- Electrochemical Synthesis of Dendritic Zinc Films Composed of Systematically Varying Motif CrystalsLangmuir, 2006
- Void-Free Trench-Filling by Electroless Copper Deposition Using the Combination of Accelerating and Inhibiting AdditivesElectrochemical and Solid-State Letters, 2006
- The Impact of Elastic Deformation on Deposition Kinetics at Lithium/Polymer InterfacesJournal of the Electrochemical Society, 2005
- Field-Induced Layering of Colloidal CrystalsScience, 1996
- Electrodeposition of polymer coatingsElectrochimica Acta, 1988
- The early history of gold platingGold Bulletin, 1973