High electronic conductivity as the origin of lithium dendrite formation within solid electrolytes

Fudong Han, Andrew S. Westover, Jie Yue, Xiulin Fan, Fei Wang, Miaofang Chi, Donovan N. Leonard, Nancy J. Dudney (), Howard Wang () and Chunsheng Wang ()
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Fudong Han: University of Maryland
Andrew S. Westover: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Jie Yue: University of Maryland
Xiulin Fan: University of Maryland
Fei Wang: University of Maryland
Miaofang Chi: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Donovan N. Leonard: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Nancy J. Dudney: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Howard Wang: University of Maryland
Chunsheng Wang: University of Maryland

Nature Energy, 2019, vol. 4, issue 3, 187-196

Abstract: Abstract Solid electrolytes (SEs) are widely considered as an ‘enabler’ of lithium anodes for high-energy batteries. However, recent reports demonstrate that the Li dendrite formation in Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO) and Li2S–P2S5 is actually much easier than that in liquid electrolytes of lithium batteries, by mechanisms that remain elusive. Here we illustrate the origin of the dendrite formation by monitoring the dynamic evolution of Li concentration profiles in three popular but representative SEs (LiPON, LLZO and amorphous Li3PS4) during lithium plating using time-resolved operando neutron depth profiling. Although no apparent changes in the lithium concentration in LiPON can be observed, we visualize the direct deposition of Li inside the bulk LLZO and Li3PS4. Our findings suggest the high electronic conductivity of LLZO and Li3PS4 is mostly responsible for dendrite formation in these SEs. Lowering the electronic conductivity, rather than further increasing the ionic conductivity of SEs, is therefore critical for the success of all-solid-state Li batteries.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41560-018-0312-z

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