Application of the differential charging voltage analysis to determine the onset of lithium-plating during fast charging of lithium-ion cells

This study demonstrates the differential charging voltage analysis (DCV) as an in-situ, non-intrusive and time-resolved method, capable of detecting the onset of lithium-plating in lithium-ion cells. The first part of this study starts with a detailed presentation of how the DCV method can detect the onset of lithium-plating. Then, the DCV method is validated by comparison with established in-situ lithium plating detection methods and lifetime cycling. In the second part, the DCV method is utilized as an easy-to-apply tool to study the influence of anode porosity and tortuosity on the fast-charge capability of lithium-ion cells. In order to demonstrate the advantages of the DCV method, graphite anodes with different porosities and coating thicknesses are studied with respect to their charging limitations as a consequence of lithium-plating. Therefore, the electrodes are structurally characterized and the ionic resistance is determined as one of the key performance indicators.