CAS: Probing Nucleation and Growth Dynamics of Lithium Dendrites in Solid Electrolytes

锂离子电池为我们的日常生活提供动力，从便携式电子产品，电动工具到医疗设备，但由于对其安全性，可靠性和能量密度的担忧，它们在更具战略意义的应用中的采用速度较慢，例如运输电气化和电网存储。将不易燃的无机固体电解质与高容量锂金属阳极集成以制造固态锂金属电池被认为是显着提高现有电池的安全性和能量密度的有前途的方法。然而，金属锂枝晶倾向于在充电期间在各种固体电解质中形成，通过仍然难以捉摸的机制引起短路风险。在该项目中，由NSF材料研究部的固态和材料化学项目资助，Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute的Fudong Han教授及其研究小组将通过探测电池运行期间枝晶的成核和生长来研究固体电解质中枝晶形成的根本原因。该项目不仅为开发先进的固体电解质提供关键的科学知识，以保持和推进美国电池技术的领先地位，还支持储能领域的STEM教育和劳动力发展。该研究涉及在国家设施中利用先进的中子散射技术，该技术的电池设计、实时测量和数据分析的发展也促进了国家基础设施的发展。 在材料研究部门的固态和材料化学计划的支持下，这项假设驱动的研究旨在探测无机固体电解质中Li枝晶的成核和生长动力学。结合最先进的陶瓷合成，中子散射测量和先进的数据建模和分析，该项目旨在揭示固体电解质中形成的枝晶的成核和生长途径，生长和溶解之间的竞争以及温度相关的形状演变。该研究为理解从传统宏观技术观察到的枝晶如何在开发抗枝晶固体电解质的早期阶段形成提供了前所未有的见解。原位小角中子散射的发展，以探测形成的外来物种在致密的陶瓷，使进一步的电化学材料的研究，微观结构的变化发生在宏观尺度上。除了推进基础材料化学，多学科研究还为不同层次的学生提供了充足的教育和推广机会，包括来自代表性不足群体的学生。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARYLithium-ion batteries power much of our daily lives from portable electronics, power tools, to medical devices, but their adoption in more strategically important applications such as transportation electrification and grid storage is slower due to concerns raised over their safety, reliability, and energy density. Integrating nonflammable inorganic solid electrolytes with high-capacity Li metal anodes to make solid-state lithium metal batteries are considered a promising approach to significantly improve the safety and energy density of existing batteries. However, metallic lithium dendrites tend to form in a variety of solid electrolytes during charging, causing short-circuit risk, by mechanisms that remain elusive. In this project, funded by the Solid State and Materials Chemistry program in the NSF’s Division of Materials Research, Prof. Fudong Han and his research group at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will study the underlying causes of dendrite formation in solid electrolytes by probing the nucleation and growth of dendrites during battery operation. The project not only provides critical scientific knowledge to develop advanced solid electrolytes for maintaining and advancing US battery technology leadership, but also supports STEM education and workforce development in the energy storage field. The research involves the utilization of advanced neutron scattering techniques at national facilities, and developments in cell design, real-time measurement, and data analysis for the technique also enhance national infrastructure development. TECHNICAL SUMMARYWith support from the Solid State and Materials Chemistry program of the Division of Materials Research, this hypothesis-driven research seeks to probe nucleation and growth dynamics of Li dendrites in inorganic solid electrolytes. Combining state-of-the-art ceramic synthesis, operando neutron scattering measurement, and advanced data modeling and analysis, this project aims to reveal the nucleation and growth pathways, competitions between growth and dissolution, and temperature-dependent shape evolutions of dendrites formed in solid electrolytes. The research provides unprecedented insights in understanding how the dendrites observed from the conventional macroscopic techniques are formed at the very early stage for development of dendrite-resistant solid electrolytes. The development of in-situ small-angle neutron scattering to probe the formation of alien species in a dense ceramic enables further electrochemical materials research where microstructure variations occur at the macroscopic scale. In addition to advancing the fundamental materials chemistry, the multi-disciplinary research also provides ample educational and outreach opportunities for students at different levels, including those from underrepresented groups.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.