Failure of Batteries with Block Copolymer Electrolytes and Lithium Metal Anodes

Solid block copolymer electrolytes are promising candidates for the development of high performance rechargeable batteries comprising a lithium metal anode due to their chemical stability toward lithium and their mechanical resistance to dendrite growth. The application of a solid polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (SEO) block copolymer electrolyte in lithium symmetric cells permits to study the formation and growth of lithium dendrites by a non-destructive tool, hard X-ray microtomography. All solid-state batteries comprising a Li metal anode, a SEO electrolyte layer and a composite cathode were assembled and cycled. The cathode contains lithium iron phosphate as active material, SEO electrolyte as binder, and carbon black. Hard X-ray microtomography enables to visualize the microstructural changes at the Li/SEO and SEO/cathode interfaces to get insight on the battery failure mechanisms.