Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 25, 2026
11:25
In Situ Neutron Powder Diffraction Using Custom-made Lithium-ion Batteries
Published on: November 10, 2014
16.2K
Finite-pulse waves for efficient suppression of evolving mesoscale dendrites in rechargeable batteries.
Asghar Aryanfar1,2, Michael R Hoffmann1, William A Goddard1
1California Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
Physical Review. E
|November 28, 2019
Summary
This study presents criteria to halt dendritic growth in rechargeable batteries using pulse charging. Understanding ion concentration gradients prevents dendrite formation, enhancing battery safety and lifespan.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Battery Technology
Background:
- Dendritic microstructures in rechargeable batteries compromise safety and longevity, especially with high-energy metallic electrodes.
- Controlling ramified electrodeposits is crucial for stable battery performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analytically develop criteria for pulse characteristics that effectively halt dendritic electrodeposit growth.
- To establish a framework for understanding and mitigating dendrite formation in electrochemical systems.
Main Methods:
- Analytical framework based on diffusion and electromigration interplay.
- Tracking ionic concentration gradients throughout pulse-rest cycles.
- Incorporating Brownian motion and electrodeposition interface geometry.
Main Results:
- Criteria for pulse characteristics that effectively halt ramified electrodeposit growth were developed.
- The framework successfully tracks ionic concentration gradients, a critical factor in heterogeneous evolution.
- Experimental observations validated the analytical developments.
Conclusions:
- The developed criteria provide a pathway to halt dendritic growth in rechargeable batteries.
- The dimension-free framework is applicable to electrochemical systems across various scales.
- This research contributes to safer and longer-lasting battery technologies.
Related Concept Videos
03:12Batteries and Fuel Cells
A battery is a galvanic cell that is used as a source of electrical power for specific applications. Modern batteries exist in a multitude of forms to accommodate various applications, from tiny button batteries such as those that power wristwatches to the very large batteries used to supply backup energy to municipal power grids. Some batteries are designed for single-use applications and cannot be recharged (primary cells), while others are based on conveniently reversible cell reactions that...
01:17Continuous Charge Distributions
Imagine a bucket of water. It contains many molecules, of the order of 1026 molecules. Thus, although it contains discrete elements (molecules) at the microscopic level, macroscopically, it can be considered continuous. Small volume elements of water, infinitesimal compared to the bulk of the bucket's volume, still contain many molecules. Under this framework, quantized matter is approximated as continuous for practical purposes.
The electric charge can also be subjected to an analogical...
The electric charge can also be subjected to an analogical...
01:21DC Battery
A conductor needs to be a component of a path that creates a closed loop or full circuit to have a continuous current flowing through it. A current starts to flow if an electric field is created inside an isolated conductor that is not part of a full circuit. The conductor quickly develops a net positive charge at one end and a net negative charge at the other. These charges generate an electric field opposite the direction of the applied electric field, which reduces the current. Eventually,...
01:25MOS Capacitor
A Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (MOS) capacitor is a fundamental structure used extensively in semiconductor device technology, particularly in the fabrication of integrated circuits and MOSFETs (metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors). The MOS capacitor consists of three layers: a metal gate, a dielectric oxide, and a semiconductor substrate.
The metal gate is typically made from highly conductive materials such as aluminum or polysilicon. Beneath the metal gate lies a thin layer of...
The metal gate is typically made from highly conductive materials such as aluminum or polysilicon. Beneath the metal gate lies a thin layer of...