Lithium Deposition-Induced Fracture of Carbon Nanotubes and Its Implication to Solid-State Batteries

Chen, Jingzhao; Zhao, Chao; Xue, Dingchuan; Zhang, Liqiang; Yang, Tingting; Du, Congcong; Zhang, Xuedong; Fang, Ruyue; Guo, Baiyu; Ye, Hongjun; Li, Hui; Dai, Qiushi; Zhao, Jun; Li, Yanshuai; Harris, Stephen J.; Tang, Yongfu; Ding, Feng; Zhang, Sulin; Huang, Jianyu

doi:10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c01910

Lithium Deposition-Induced Fracture of Carbon Nanotubes and Its Implication to Solid-State Batteries

Journal Article · Mon Aug 09 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · Nano Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c01910· OSTI ID:1841172

Chen, Jingzhao ^[1]; Zhao, Chao ^[2]; Xue, Dingchuan ^[3]; Zhang, Liqiang ^[1]; Yang, Tingting ^[1]; Du, Congcong ^[1]; Zhang, Xuedong ^[4]; Fang, Ruyue ^[3]; Guo, Baiyu ^[1]; Ye, Hongjun ^[1]; Li, Hui ^[1]; Dai, Qiushi ^[1]; Zhao, Jun ^[1]; Li, Yanshuai ^[1]; Harris, Stephen J. ^[5]; ^[1]; Ding, Feng ^[2]; Zhang, Sulin ^[3]; ^[6]

Yanshan Univ., Qinhuangdao (China)
Ulsan National Inst. of Science and Technology (UNIST) (Korea)
Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)
Xiangtan Univ., Hunan (China)
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Yanshan Univ., Qinhuangdao (China); Xiangtan Univ., Hunan (China)

The increasing demand for safe and dense energy storage has shifted research focus from liquid electrolyte-based Li-ion batteries toward solid-state batteries (SSBs). However, the application of SSBs is impeded by uncontrollable Li dendrite growth and short circuiting, the mechanism of which remains elusive. Herein, we conceptualize a scheme to visualize Li deposition in the confined space inside carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to mimic Li deposition dynamics inside solid electrolyte (SE) cracks, where the high-strength CNT walls mimic the mechanically strong SEs. We observed that the deposited Li propagates as a creeping solid in the CNTs, presenting an effective pathway for stress relaxation. When the stress-relaxation pathway is blocked, the Li deposition-induced stress reaches the gigapascal level and causes CNT fracture. Mechanics analysis suggests that interfacial lithiophilicity critically governs Li deposition dynamics and stress relaxation. Furthermore, our study offers critical strategies for suppressing Li dendritic growth and constructing high-energy-density, electrochemically and mechanically robust SSBs.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-05CH11231

OSTI ID:: 1841172

Journal Information:: Nano Letters, Journal Name: Nano Letters Journal Issue: 16 Vol. 21; ISSN 1530-6984

Publisher:: American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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