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Characterizing the critical challenges of Li-metal solid-state batteries: From micrometer to centimeter

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Abstract

Lithium-metal solid-state batteries (LiMSSBs) are potentially one of the most promising next-generation battery technologies that can enable high energy density without compromising safety. However, their implementation on a practical level has yet to be demonstrated due to the incompatibility of solid-state components, electro-chemo-mechanical interfacial degradation, and ultimately, dendrite formation which limits practical operation. In this article, we systematically address the key challenges at various length scales from interfacial issues at the material level to system-level challenges at the more practical cell level, where characterization tools and methodologies are presented to shed light on the main degradation mechanisms. A full suite of tools ranging from electrochemical and chemical analysis to microscopy are recommended with the limitations and capabilities of each discussed. Finally, an outlook on how these techniques can accelerate the further development of next-generation LiMSSBs is discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This work by J.J. was supported by the Sogang University Research Grant of 2023 (‘202310026.01’). This work was funded by the LG Energy Solution through the Frontier Research Laboratory (FRL) program.

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Author notes

  1. So-Yeon Ham and Ashley Cronk are co-first authors and have contributed equally to the work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, USA

    So-Yeon Ham & Ashley Cronk

  2. Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Ying Shirley Meng

  3. Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, USA

    Ying Shirley Meng

  4. Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Jihyun Jang

Authors
  1. So-Yeon Ham
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  2. Ashley Cronk
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  3. Ying Shirley Meng
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  4. Jihyun Jang
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Contributions

S.-Y.H. contributed to conceptualization, investigation, visualization, validation, and writing-original draft. A.C. contributed to conceptualization, investigation, visualization, validation, and writing-original draft. Y.S.M. contributed to supervision, writing-review and editing, and project administration. J.J. contributed to conceptualization, supervision, writing-review and editing, and project administration.

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Correspondence to Ying Shirley Meng or Jihyun Jang.

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Ham, SY., Cronk, A., Meng, Y.S. et al. Characterizing the critical challenges of Li-metal solid-state batteries: From micrometer to centimeter. MRS Bulletin 48, 1269–1279 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1557/s43577-023-00630-4

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