A direct method to quantify lithium plating on graphite negative electrode of commercial Li-ion cells

The deposition of metallic lithium is a degradation mechanism, also known as lithium plating, that might occur at the negative electrode surface of Li-ion battery cell, especially during fast charging, low temperature charging and high state of charge. The loss of cyclable lithium may lead to irreversible capacity fade and might also bring significant safety hazards. In this context, the experimental quantification of plated lithium on the negative electrode surface could be used to accurately validate electrochemical and physical models that might be used to predict plated lithium without cell opening. Also, the determination of plated Li may help in the evaluation of the safety and aging of commercial cells from different manufacturers for a specific application. This work shows a fast and cost-effective method that can be used to quantify plated lithium on commercial Li-ion battery graphite electrodes.