Residual Compressive Stress as a Proposed General Solution to Dendrite Penetration in Solid Electrolytes

Rapid filament growth of lithium is limiting the commercialization of solid state lithium metal anode batteries. Recent work demonstrates that lithium filaments grow into pre-existing or nascent cracks in the solid electrolyte, suggesting that increasing the fracture toughness of the solid electrolytes will inhibit filament penetration. We previously suggested that introducing residual compressive stresses at the surface of the solid electrolyte can provide this additional fracture toughness. In this talk we will discuss ion exchange and ion implantation as methods for introducing residual compresses near the surface of solid electrolytes.