The images, captured using a new technique called ptychography, show the internal structure of batteries in unprecedented detail. This has allowed researchers to identify several factors that limit battery performance, such as the formation of dendrites and the growth of solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layers.
Dendrites are needle-like crystals that can grow on the surface of battery electrodes and cause short circuits. SEI layers are thin films that form on the surface of battery electrodes and can prevent them from making contact with the electrolyte.
The new images show that dendrites and SEI layers can form in batteries even under ideal conditions. This suggests that these problems are inherent to the way that batteries work, and that they cannot be completely eliminated.
However, the images also provide insights into how dendrites and SEI layers can be minimized. For example, the researchers found that dendrite formation can be reduced by using a thinner electrolyte and by adding certain additives to the electrolyte. SEI layer growth can be reduced by using a more stable electrode material.
The new findings could lead to the development of better batteries that are more powerful and last longer.
The research was published in the journal Nature Materials.
