Strong and brittle lithium dendrites

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Ai, Qing; Zhang, Boyu; Liu, Xing; Shin, Bongki; Guo, Wenhua; Gao, Guanhui; Zhao, Lihong; Weng, Xintong; Fang, Qiyi; Zhai, Tianshu; Steinbach, Doug; Zhu, Yifan; Liu, Yifeng; Wang, Fan; Tian, Xiaoyin; Guo, Hua; Zhang, Youtian; Zhao, Xuan; Han, Yimo; Tang, Ming; Yao, Yan; Zhu, Ting; Gao, Huajian; Lou, Jun
• 署名单位: Rice University; Rice University; University System of Georgia; Georgia Institute of Technology; New Jersey Institute of Technology; Rice University; University of Houston System; University of Houston; University of Houston System; University of Houston; Rice University; Rice University; Agency for Science Technology & Research (A*STAR); A*STAR - Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC); Nanyang Technological University; Rice University
• 刊物名称: SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.adu9988
• 发表日期: 2026-03-12
• 页码: 1125-1129
• 关键词: temperature-dependence; mechanical-properties; propagation; field; li

摘要

The growth and penetration of lithium dendrites through electrolytes and separators remain key challenges to realizing high-energy density lithium-metal batteries. Using mechanically strong electrolytes and separators has been considered a promising strategy based on the commonly believed softness of lithium. However, dendrite formation persists in stiff solid electrolytes, suggesting distinct mechanical behaviors. We measured the mechanical properties of individual lithium dendrites using an air-free protocol. We found that lithium dendrites are unexpectedly strong and brittle, with fracture stress greater than similar to 150 megapascals, unlike the ductile bulk metal. Cryo-transmission electron microscopy and mechanical modeling showed that this behavior arises from solid electrolyte interface constraints and nanoscale strengthening. These findings provide alternative mechanisms for dendrite penetration and dead lithium formation as well as guidance for design strategies for lithium-metal batteries.