The entire process of lithium dendrite growth and fracture was directly observed for the first time in working batteries.

Inside lithium-ion batteries, there is a structure known as “lithium dendrites.” It resembles tiny metallic “needles,” and for a long time it has been thought to be an important cause of battery performance degradation and even short circuits. For the first time, an international research team from institutions such as Rice University in the United States and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore directly observed the growth and fracture process of lithium dendrites in operating batteries, revealing mechanical properties that were previously unknown and offering new ideas for improving battery safety. The related results were published in the latest issue of the journal Science.