Researchers have not made the progress they hoped for with solid-electrolyte lithium metal batteries. In theory, they should perform well. However, in practice mysterious short-circuits and failures have plagued them. But yesterday, January 31, 2023 we had some news of progress. Because a team of top scientists have unearthed a major cause of solid-electrolyte lithium battery failure.
Lithium Battery Failure Comes Down to Stress
A team comprising experts from Stanford University, and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory claim a breakthrough. That’s because they believe tiny defects during manufacturing are failing under stress.
“Just modest indentation, bending or twisting of the batteries can cause nanoscopic fissures in the materials to open. And lithium to intrude into the solid electrolyte causing it to short circuit,” reports senior study author William Chueh.
“Even dust or other impurities introduced in manufacturing can generate enough stress to cause failure,” he continues. The associate professor of materials science and engineering collaborated with Wendy Gu, assistant professor of mechanical engineering.
Now failing solid electrolytes are hardly breaking news in the lithium battery industry. The problem has been with us for a while. It is a major cause of electrodes short-circuiting through the electrolytic barrier, which is supposed to prevent this lithium battery failure happening.
But How Statistically Relevant Is This Finding?
Another group of scientists previously reported related findings in Journal Nature Energy (see link below). They reported resolving this problem “could overcome the main barriers to the widespread use of electric vehicles, among numerous other benefits”.
The Stanford team explains many solid lithium-ion separators are ceramic electrolytes. And “like ceramics in our homes, they can develop tiny cracks on their surface,” they add. In fact, to drive the nail home they confirmed this phenomenon in over 60 experiments.
Many of the nanoscopic cracks, dents and fissures were less than 20 nanometers wide. Compared to this a sheet of paper is about 100,000 nanometers thick. These inherent fractures open during fast charging they say, allowing the lithium to intrude through them.
More Information
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Preview Image: Characteristic Ceramic Crazing
