2021 F. M. Becket Fellowship – Summary Report Measuring Transient Electrochemistry of Lithium Metal Anodes under Varying External Stack Pressures

Lithium metal anodes are challenged by the inherent chemical and electrochemical reactivity of lithium metal, which is further exacerbated by non-uniform high surface area deposition. Recently, lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate (LiDFOB) salt coupled with a fluorinated solvent has been demonstrated to result in densely deposited lithium morphology along with high Coulombic efficiencies due to a stable solidelectrolyte-interphase. Along with other newly discovered electrolyte compositions for stable lithium deposition, these studies typically utilize high stack pressures and elevated temperatures. These developments are promising, and would further benefit from a study that maps out the effects of varying stack pressure and temperature on lithium anode mechanics, chemistry, and electrochemistry.