Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 9, 2026

Solid-state Graft Copolymer Electrolytes for Lithium Battery Applications
Published on: August 12, 2013
Operando monitoring the lithium spatial distribution of lithium metal anodes
Shasha Lv1,2, Tomas Verhallen1, Alexandros Vasileiadis1
1Department of Radiation Science and Technology, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, Delft, 2629 JB, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Electrical mobility demands an increase of battery energy density beyond current lithium-ion technology. A crucial bottleneck is the development of safe and reversible lithium-metal anodes, which is challenged by short circuits caused by lithium-metal dendrites and a short cycle life owing to the reactivity with electrolytes. The evolution of the lithium-metal-film morphology is relatively poorly understood because it is difficult to monitor lithium, in particular during battery operation. Here we employ operando neutron depth profiling as a noninvasive and versatile technique, complementary to microscopic techniques, providing the spatial distribution/density of lithium during plating and stripping. The evolution of the lithium-metal-density-profile is shown to depend on the current density, electrolyte composition and cycling history, and allows monitoring the amount and distribution of inactive lithium over cycling. A small amount of reversible lithium uptake in the copper current collector during plating and stripping is revealed, providing insights towards improved lithium-metal anodes.
Related Concept Videos
Alkali Metals
Table 1: Properties of the alkali metals
Batteries and Fuel Cells
Bonding in Metals
Metallic Solids
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and malleability....
Metal-Ligand Bonds
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
Properties of Transition Metals

