(733b) Growth Front Evolution in Electrodeposition on 3D Frameworks Fabricated Via Dhbt

To cope up with the surge in energy demand, metal anode batteries are increasingly replacing the conventional metal ion batteries due to their higher specific energy density. During electrochemical charging of solid-state batteries, metal ions (Ca, Mg, Na, K, Li) get deposited on the current collector as pure metallic anode. The plating of the anode experiences a dynamic nonplanar metal front evolution as a result of non-uniform current distribution, namely dendrites. The metal anode undergoes expansion/shrinkage during charging/discharging, eventually structurally hampering the battery. Moreover, the durability and safety of the batteries are compromised when the growth front of the anode ultimately penetrates the separator and reaches the cathode, causing short-circuiting of the cell and possible battery thermal runaway. Although the use of different electrolytes, electrolyte additives, and charging protocols etc. have proven to be beneficial in combating the anode deformation and undesirable metallic growth up to some extent, a favorable design in 3D current collectors situated below the metal anode will further alleviate the issues. Herein, morphology dependent electrodeposition of copper on structured frameworks is explored that may provide insights in designing the current collectors. Dynamic hydrogen bubble template (DHBT) method is utilized to fabricate rough, honeycomb structured and porous micro/nano structured copper electrodes. In-situ 2D visualization of the dynamic evolution front (metallic copper) exhibits distinct morphologies (Mossy like, closely packed structures) owing to the structure mediated local surface current density distribution. Porous electrodes with high internal surface area show a reduction in deposition height of the metallic front. The cumulative effect of minimized local effective current density and homogenous distribution of incoming metal atoms over the entire area manifests itself in the reduction of unwanted metallic growth.