Observation of Lithium Dendrites at Ambient Temperature and Below

Lithium-ion batteries are prone to failure at low temperatures and dendrite growth during charging is one suspect. We attempt to understand lithium dendrite growth by observing their number, initiation time and growth rate at ambient and sub-ambient temperatures: -10 degrees C, 5 degrees C, and 20 degrees C using an in-situ optical microscopy cell (Li-0 vertical bar Li-0). We find that while dendrites initiate quickly at -10 degrees C, the cells at 5 degrees C short-circuit most rapidly due in part to a favorable morphology at this temperature. The experimental approach has broad applicability to other electrochemical energy storage technologies where mass transport limitations are present at low temperatures, particularly Li-air, Li-S, and Zn-air batteries. (C) The Author(s) 2014. Published by ECS. All rights reserved.