Abstract Scope |
Pure metals, such as Li, Na, and K, are ideal anode materials for rechargeable batteries, as they possess the largest theoretical capacities in their respective systems. However, when integrated with liquid electrolytes, these metals readily form dendrites, which lead to severe issues of safety and cyclability. Even when paired with solid electrolytes (SE), several issues still arise, including electrolyte fracture, metal penetration through the electrolyte, and/or loss of anode-electrolyte contact. In this talk, I will discuss our recent experimental studies of the mechanical behavior of several high-capacity electrode materials over various temperatures, strain rates, and length scales (nano to bulk). Of note, through nanoindentation, we find significant size effects in Li, Na, and K. I will then outline the implications of these measurements in terms of stress buildup within metallic protrusions (dendrites) at a SE/anode interface with an eye toward designing safe solid-state batteries with long lifetimes. |