Perspective-Lithium Metal Nucleation and Growth on Conductive Substrates: A Multi-Scale Understanding from Atomistic, Nano-, Meso-, to Micro-Scales

Reversible lithium (Li) deposition and stripping on conductive substrates like copper is vital for long-life high-energy rechargeable Li batteries. The reversibility is believed hindered by solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation and Li dendritic growth. Via in situ, operando cryo-microscopy and molecular dynamics simulation, we discovered amorphous Li before a disorder-order phase transition to bcc phase. The kinetics plays a significant role in Li nucleation and morphology evolution. This perspective on Li nucleation and growth from atomistic to nano- (< 20 nm), meso- (20-100 nm), and micro-scales (> 100 nm) provides a practical guidance on regulating dense Li deposits reversibly for long life performance. (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published on behalf of The Electrochemical Society by IOP Publishing Limited.