TUM & Oxford Unveil Breakthrough in All-Solid-State Battery Tech
Researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the University of Oxford have made a significant breakthrough in all-solid-state battery technology. They discovered that densified argyrodite, specifically LiPSCl, can prevent lithium dendrite formation, a major hurdle in commercialising these safer energy storage systems.
Lithium dendrites, needle-like metal structures, often form in all-solid-state batteries during charging. These can pierce solid electrolytes, impacting performance. To tackle this, researchers densified LiPSCl solid electrolyte from 83% to 99% relative density. This allowed plating currents of 9 mA cm without dendrite formation.
The study, conducted by TUM researchers, showed that densification improved the material's critical current density (CCD). CCD is the maximum current for lithium plating without dendrite growth. Modeling also revealed that specific changes in pore and crack size can influence CCD. Increasing pore and crack size boosted CCD, while lower pore population and narrower cracks decreased it.
This breakthrough paves the way for safer, more efficient all-solid-state batteries. Future work may integrate densified argyrodite in battery cells to validate its real-world applications. Preventing dendrite formation while achieving high energy densities is crucial for commercialising these batteries. The research, conducted by TUM and Oxford University, brings us a step closer to this goal.
