Dendrite
growth and low Coulombic efficiency impede the practical
application of Li-metal batteries. As such, monitoring Li deposition
and stripping in real-time is crucial to understanding the fundamental
lithium growth kinetics. This work presents an operando optical microscopic technique that enables precise current density
control and quantification of Li layer properties (i.e., thickness
and porosity) to study Li growth in various electrolytes. We discover
the robustness and porosity of the remaining capping layer after the
Li stripping process as the critical features governing the subsequent
dendrite propagation behavior, resulting in distinct capping and stacking
phenomena that affect Li growth upon cycling. While dendrite propagation
quickly occurs through the fracture of the fragile Li capping layer,
uniform Li plating/stripping can be facilitated by the compact and
robust capping layer even at high current densities. This technique
can be extended to evaluate dendrite suppression treatments in various
metal batteries, providing in-depth information on metal growth mechanisms.
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