Heterogeneity propagation and surface homogenization for pouch-cell-sized Li metal anodes
- 1Energy Storage Research & Analysis Department, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA
- 2Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
- 3Energy Storage Research & Analysis Department, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA; Corresponding author
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.
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BibTeX
@article{thakur2026heterogeneity,
title = {{Heterogeneity propagation and surface homogenization for pouch-cell-sized Li metal anodes}},
author = {Pallavi Thakur and Erick Espinosa-Villatoro and Mayuresh Savargaonkar and Aashray Narla and Pete Barnes and Johanna Nelson Weker and Eric J. Dufek and Bor-Rong Chen},
journal = {Cell Reports Physical Science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.xcrp.2026.103616},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrp.2026.103616},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Heterogeneity propagation and surface homogenization for pouch-cell-sized Li metal anodes
AU - Pallavi Thakur
AU - Erick Espinosa-Villatoro
AU - Mayuresh Savargaonkar
AU - Aashray Narla
AU - Pete Barnes
AU - Johanna Nelson Weker
AU - Eric J. Dufek
AU - Bor-Rong Chen
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Cell Reports Physical Science
DO - 10.1016/j.xcrp.2026.103616
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrp.2026.103616
AB - 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.
SN - 2666-3864
ER -