Advancing All-Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries
MIE Associate Professor Hongli Zhu received a $770,000 grant from the DOE Office of Science for “Uncovering the Mechano-electro-chemo Mechanism of Fresh Li in Sulfide Based all Solid-state Batteries through Operando Studies“.
Electrification is a crucial strategy for combatting the climate crisis and establishing a sustainable energy infrastructure. Batteries play a vital role in achieving these goals by reducing carbon dioxide emissions and eliminating dependence on fossil fuels. Lithium (Li) metal has emerged as a promising anode material for all-solid-state batteries due to its low electrochemical potential, high capacity, and lightweight properties. However, the utilization of Li metal faces challenges, particularly dendritic growth. All-solid-state Li metal batteries (ASLMBs) have been proposed as a solution to suppress dendrites by leveraging their high mechanical strength. However, ASLMBs encounter additional hurdles such as significant volume changes, dendrites, and interface contact loss. Zhu’s research will contribute to the advancement of all-solid-state Li metal batteries by addressing key challenges and understanding the behavior of Li metal at the multiscale. The utilization of in situ and operando characterizations, coupled with electrochemistry and device design, will provide a deep understanding of the mechano-electro-chemo stability and evolution of Li metal anodes in ASLMBs. The study will unlock insights into Li nucleation, transformations, dynamics, and structure-property relationships, ultimately leading to the commercial implementation of ASLMBs with superior performance.