{
  "abstract": "Li metal batteries are challenged by anode instability issues originating from Li surface utilization heterogeneities, which emerge during the earliest stages of cycling, propagate throughout operation, and ultimately drive cell-to-cell performance variations and failure. However, heterogeneity issues remain under-investigated due to mainstream studies’ reliance on electrodes with small areas and few replicates. Here, we evaluated 32 Li || NMC811 pouch cells, using either as-purchased or mechanically homogenized Li via brushing. The brushed group exhibits narrower distributions of capacity trajectories and lifetimes, along with a 35% increase in median lifetime relative to the as-purchased group. Additionally, millimeter-scale variations in chemical compositions are observed on the as-purchased Li surface and result in localized utilization patterns after initial plating and stripping, whereas such inhomogeneity is eliminated after brushing. This work establishes a link between early-stage Li utilization and cell performance consistency, providing a pathway for evaluating and improving reliability in large-format battery production.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Energy Storage Research & Analysis Department, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA",
    "Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA",
    "Energy Storage Research & Analysis Department, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA; Corresponding author"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Pallavi Thakur"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Erick Espinosa-Villatoro"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Mayuresh Savargaonkar"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Aashray Narla"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Pete Barnes"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Johanna Nelson Weker"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Eric J. Dufek"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Bor-Rong Chen"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5harmjxdbwaw7.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1016/j.xcrp.2026.103616",
  "fulltext_url": "http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666386426005229",
  "id": "5harmjxdbwaw7",
  "issns": [
    "2666-3864"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrp.2026.103616",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "lcc",
      "QC1-999"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2208|Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223319828",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-30",
  "publisher": "Elsevier",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5harmjxdbwaw7.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T13:44:53Z",
      "native_id": "242d5d362a174b90bfa4a85d08822cfe",
      "source": "doaj",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrp.2026.103616"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "lcc:QC1-999",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Heterogeneity propagation and surface homogenization for pouch-cell-sized Li metal anodes",
  "title_text": "Heterogeneity propagation and surface homogenization for pouch-cell-sized Li metal anodes",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T13:44:53Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5harmjxdbwaw7",
  "venue": "Cell Reports Physical Science",
  "versions": []
}