A Review of Existing and Emerging Methods for Lithium Detection and Characterization in Li‐Ion and Li‐Metal Batteries
Partha P. Paul Eric J. McShane Andrew M. Colclasure Nitash Balsara David E. Brown Chuntian Cao Bor‐Rong Chen Parameswara R. Chinnam Yi Cui Eric J. Dufek Donal P. Finegan Samuel Gillard Wenxiao Huang Zachary M. Konz Robert Kostecki Fang Liu Sean Lubner Ravi Prasher Molleigh B. Preefer Ji Qian Marco‐Tulio Fonseca Rodrigues Manuel Schnabel Seoung‐Bum Son Venkat Srinivasan Hans‐Georg Steinrück Tanvir R. Tanim Michael F. Toney Wei Tong Francois Usseglio‐Viretta Jiayu Wan Maha Yusuf Bryan D. McCloskey Johanna Nelson Weker
March 2021 - Whether attempting to eliminate parasitic Li metal plating on graphite (and other Li‐ion anodes) or enabling stable, uniform Li metal formation in ‘anode‐free’ Li battery configurations, the detection and characterization (morphology, microstructure, chemistry) of Li that cannot be reversibly cycled is essential to understand the behavior and degradation of rechargeable batteries. In this review, various approaches used to detect and characterize the formation of Li in batteries are discussed. Each technique has its unique set of advantages and limitations, and works towards solving only part of the full puzzle of battery degradation. Going forward, multimodal characterization holds the most promise towards addressing two pressing concerns in the implementation of the next generation of batteries in the transportation sector (viz. reducing recharging times and increasing the available capacity per recharge without sacrificing cycle life). Such characterizations involve combining several techniques (experimental‐ and/or modeling‐based) in order to exploit their respective advantages and allow a more comprehensive view of cell degradation and the role of Li metal formation in it. It is also discussed which individual techniques, or combinations thereof, can be implemented in real‐world battery management systems on‐board electric vehicles for early detection of potential battery degradation that would lead to failure.
