Stress Relief in Metal Anodes: Mechanisms and Applications

Abstract Metal anodes (lithium/sodium/zinc) are recognized as the most promising choice for rechargeable batteries due to their high theoretical capacity and low electrochemical redox potential. Unfortunately, metal anodes face serious metal dendrite problems, hindering their practical applications. Recent research has shown that metal dendrites can also be caused by high levels of stress generated during the metal deposition process. To address this issue, an alternative strategy based on stress relief is proposed to inhibit the growth of metal dendrites. Herein, this work aims to investigate the mechanism of stress generation and evolution within metal anodes. In addition, this work explores the utilization of stress to induce metal nucleation. This work further discuss the various experimental techniques used to study stress release in metal dendrites and review recent research findings on stress relief in metal dendrites within metal anodes. Specifically, this work examines how microstructure and processing conditions affect stress release and discuss potential strategies for improving the efficiency of stress relief strategies in metal dendrites. As a result, a deeper understanding of stress release in metal dendrites can lead to the development of rechargeable batteries with superior performance, longer cycle life, as well as enhanced safety for practical applications in various fields.