Eliminating Dendrites through Dynamically Engineering the Forces Applied during Li Deposition for Stable Lithium Metal Anodes

Lithium metal anodes are considered the most promising anode for next-generation high-energy-density batteries due to their high theoretical capacity and low electrochemical potential. However, intractable barriers, especially the notorious dendrite growth, severe volume expansion, and side reactions, have obstructed its large-scale application. Numerous strategies from different points of view are explored to surmount these obstacles. Within these efforts, dynamically engineering the forces applied during the electrochemical process plays a significant role, as they can potentially eliminate the dendrite growth. In this Research News article, the relationship between different kinds of forces and the behavior of Li+/Li during the lithium deposition process is first explicated. Advanced strategies in building dendrite-free Li anodes through dynamically engineering these forces are also summarized by sorting the Li deposition process into three stages: Li+ transport in electrolyte, Li+ reduction/Li atom surface migration, and Li bulk diffusion. Future perspectives and promising research directions for dendrite control are finally proposed. It is expected that dynamically engineering the forces applied during Li deposition will pave the way for next-generation high-energy-density rechargeable Li metal batteries.