Fast freezing reveals new insights into lithium battery degradation

Three-dimensional reconstructions of the dendrite structures

Source: © 2018 Springer Nature

Cryo-STEM shows a second type of dendrites growing on lithium electrodes

Researchers in the US have peered inside lithium metal batteries to scrutinise their chemistry and structure. Using fast freezing to look at the interface between the metal electrodes and liquid electrolyte, they uncovered a new aspect of electrode degradation that helps explain loss of battery capacity over time.