Mitigating Battery Cell Failure: Role of Ag‐Nanoparticle Fillers in Solid Electrolyte Dendrite Suppression

Journal Article · Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Advanced Energy Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202405700· OSTI ID:2584089

Diallo, Mouhamad Said; Ogunfunmi, Tofunmi; Yang, Xiaochen; Oyakhire, Solomon Tolulope; Avvaru, Venkata Sai; Scott, Mary Cooper; Tu, Qingsong Howard; Ceder, Gerbrand

Abstract The development of solid‐state batteries (SSBs) with lithium Li metal anodes holds significant promise for enhancing the energy density and safety of next‐generation energy storage systems. However, their commercialization is hindered by challenges related to Li dendrite formation, which can lead to short circuits and battery failure. In this study, the role of Ag nanoparticles embedded within solid electrolytes (SE) is investigated in suppressing dendrite propagation. The results demonstrate that Ag nanoparticles effectively mitigate two key failure mechanisms: (1) dendrite growth within porous networks at low current densities and (2) stress intensification‐induced SE fracture at higher current densities (12 mA cm −2 ). Ex situ characterization using focused‐ion beam – scanning electron microscopy (FIB–SEM) and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS,) reveals that Ag nanoparticles migrate alongside advancing Li dendrites, promoting homogeneous dendrite growth and reducing the likelihood of localized stress concentrations. Additionally, the incorporation of Ag nanoparticles is shown to facilitate a more uniform Li distribution toward the anode side, which can potentially enable the use of higher charging rates in SSBs. This study provides a new perspective on Li dendrite suppression and presents new opportunities for enhancing the performance and safety of SSBs.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 2584089
• Journal Information: Advanced Energy Materials, Journal Name: Advanced Energy Materials Journal Issue: 30 Vol. 15
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English