Dendrite Formation in Batteries - Dead Lithium and Thermodiffusion

Explore advanced modeling techniques for understanding dendrite formation in lithium metal batteries through this 44-minute conference presentation by Peter Voorhees from Northwestern University. Learn about a general phase field framework that guarantees energy decrease during evolution in isothermal electrochemical systems, and discover how the driving force extension method enables realistic materials and processing parameter analysis. Examine the formation of isolated metallic lithium ('dead' lithium) as a critical challenge in lithium metal anode applications, and understand why completely suppressing dendrites may be unnecessary if they remain controllable without forming isolated metallic lithium. Investigate the effects of intentionally applied external thermal gradients on mitigating dendrite growth to improve battery safety and lifetime, including how small temperature differences create large thermal gradients across cells due to separator thinness, leading to thermodiffusion in electrolytes. Discover how thermal gradients can promote anode stability by encouraging preferential lithium deposition at dendrite roots rather than tips, potentially suppressing dendrite formation entirely, while also learning how thermal gradients can unintentionally accelerate dendrite growth, providing essential insights for cell geometry design and thermal management strategies.