Lithium Dendrites Inhibition via Diffusion Enhancement

The dendritic structure is a disastrous problem of lithium metal batteries as well as other metal rechargeable batteries. The dendritic structures are usually caused by diffusion limitation. Here, a novel strategy is reported to inhibit lithium dendrites based on the understanding of their formation mechanism. An alternating current field perpendicular to the anode is set up, which promotes Li+ movement along the anode surface and prevents ions' deposition on the tips from forming dendrites. Furthermore, an external direct current field parallel to the current is employed, which accelerates the transport of Li+ in electrolytes to mitigate the concentration gradient nearby the anode and thus inhibits the formation of dendritic structures. A simultaneous employment of these two fields gains five times increase of the lifespan of batteries at the high charging current density of 2 mA cm(-2), confirming the effectiveness of this strategy in protecting the metal anode and inhibiting lithium dendrites. This strategy may have a wide feasibility since it does not change the materials and structures of batteries.