Mechanistic Underpinnings of Interfaces and Crosstalk in Solid-State Batteries

Solid-state lithium metal batteries promise to deliver higher energy and power densities including enhanced safety, as compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries. This is predicated upon overcoming myriad challenges including chemo-mechanics interaction, interface evolution, and transport-kinetics dichotomy. The mechanistic implications of plating-stripping crosstalk resulting from the anode/solid-electrolyte/cathode interfaces play a critical role in the rate performance and failure pathways in solid-state batteries. In this presentation, we delineate the role of underlying kinetic-transport mechanisms and chemo-mechanics interplay on performance in an exemplar solid-state battery with an inorganic solid electrolyte and a lithium metal anode. The fundamental interactions governing the morphological stability and intrinsic failure modes such as filament formation and void growth at solid-solid interfaces, and the mechanistic influence of cathode microstructure on electrochemical response and crosstalk behavior will be analyzed.