{
  "abstract": "Alkali metal negative electrodes in solid-state batteries (SSBs) undergo mechanical deformation during cycling, for which an understanding of their physical metallurgy is critical. Here, we study the link between microstructure and plastic deformation in lithium and sodium. Grain size is controlled through deformation processing, and etching methods are developed to reveal grain boundaries, subgrain boundaries, and dislocation structures. Hall-Petch strengthening with decreasing grain size occurs in both metals. Creep rate in lithium is grain-size-independent above the subgrain size, but increases at small grain sizes where diffusional creep dominates. Oxide dispersion-strengthened behavior is observed in Li. At length scales below the subgrain size, strength increases and creep rates decrease due to dislocation starvation. Solid-state electrochemical cell tests in which lithium of differing foil thickness is stripped under pressure validates length-scale effects. Overall, this work provides a physical metallurgy framework for alkali metal deformation and offers design principles for advanced SSBs.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Materials Science and Engineering",
    "Massachusetts Institute of Technology",
    "Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering",
    "University of Texas at Austin"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Chiung-Yuan Lo"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Vijay D. Veeraraghavan"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Cole D. Fincher"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Callum J. Campbell"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "QianQian Yan"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "David Mitlin"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Yet-Ming Chiang",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-0833-7674"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7fn5yqvd5qdrn.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.26434/chemrxiv.15008481/v1",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "7fn5yqvd5qdrn",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008481/v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2208|Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7211972436",
  "pdf_url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/pdf/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008481/v1",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-08",
  "publisher": "American Chemical Society (ACS)",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7fn5yqvd5qdrn.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:17Z",
      "native_id": "10.26434/chemrxiv.15008481",
      "source": "chemrxiv",
      "url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008481/v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "source:chemrxiv",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Physical Metallurgy of Lithium and Sodium and its Role in Electrochemical Stability of Solid-State Battery Anodes",
  "title_text": "Physical Metallurgy of Lithium and Sodium and its Role in Electrochemical Stability of Solid-State Battery Anodes",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:17Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7fn5yqvd5qdrn",
  "venue": "ChemRxiv",
  "versions": []
}