Driving lithium to deposit inside structured lithium metal anodes: A phase field model

Lithium metal anode is one of the most important anode materials for next-generation high-specific-energy secondary batteries. Structured lithium metal anodes have received extensive attention in the development of practical lithium metal batteries. Methods of driving lithium metal to deposit inside the pores of structured lithium metal anodes have always been one of the most concerned issues, especially for highly conductive frameworks. An electrochemical phase field theory with galvanostatic lithium plating process is employed in this work, the mechanism that illustrates the preference of lithium metal to deposit at the top of the framework structure has been revealed, and through the simulation analysis of various regulating strategies, the strategies that can efficiently drive lithium to deposit inside structured pores are summarized. This work presents the theoretical calculation and analysis methods that can be used for the rational design of lithium metal batteries.