New view of dendrites in Li batteries gets to the root of the problem

(Phys.org) —One of the biggest challenges facing rechargeable batteries with lithium (Li) electrodes is the growth of dendrites, which can short-circuit the batteries and cause complete failure. Although dendrites do their damage in the battery's electrolyte region, a new study has found that the root of dendrite formation lies deeper, not in the electrolyte but in the underlying electrode.