Comprehensive review on nucleation, growth, and suppression of lithium dendrites in lithium anode batteries

With an ultrahigh theoretical specific capacity of 3860 mAh g-1 and the least negative electrochemical potential of -3.04 V (vs the standard hydrogen electrode), Lithium Metal Batteries (LMBs) are seen as a promising energy storage candidate for next-generation electric vehicles. Unfortunately, their enormous interfacial resistance and uncontrollably growing dendrites have made their future applications extremely difficult. In this review article, firstly we have summarized systematic and in-depth issues associated with dendrites in polymer and inorganic Solid-State Electrolytes (SSEs), and the various ways of LMB's failure due to dendrites. Second, different tactics have been explored depending on dendritic nucleation and growth, either to block the dendrites or to increase the LMB's operational lifetime before it short circuits. In the end, the extensive conclusion and outlook on the ongoing limitations and recommended research on LMBs have been discussed.