Professor Song Zhongxiao's team at Xi'an Jiaotong University, in collaboration with researcher Xiong Shizhao from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, studied the impact mechanisms of lithium wire growth, interface defects, and internal defects/interface defect synergies on the electrochemical-mechanical failure of solid-state electrolytes, and achieved a series of breakthroughs.

The team conducted a systematic study of the failure process caused by the growth of lithium wires inside solid-state electrolytes. The findings were published in the well-known materials journal Advanced Materials under the title "Electro-chemo-mechanical failure of solid electrolyte induced by growth of internal lithium filaments".

Figure 1 Electro-chemo-mechanical failure of solid electrolyte induced by growth of internal lithium filaments

The study revealed the mechanism by which the deposition of metallic lithium at interface defects causes the failure of solid-state electrolytes. The result was published in the well-known materials journal Advanced Materials under the title "Role of interfacial defect on electro-chemo-mechanical failure of solid-state electrolyte".

Figure 2 Role of interfacial defect on electro-chemo-mechanical failure of solid-state electrolyte

The mechanism of how defect size and geometric configuration contribute to the formation of synergistic effects is emphasized. The result was published in the well-known journal Advanced Energy Materials under the title "Mechanical Failure of Solid-State Electrolyte Rooted in Synergy of Interfacial and Internal Defects".

Figure 3 Mechanical Failure of Solid-State Electrolyte Rooted in Synergy of Interfacial and Internal Defects

All of the above research results were produced by the State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures at Xi'an Jiaotong University, with doctoral student Liu Yangyang and visiting doctoral student Xu Xieyu as first authors.