Insight Understanding of External Pressure on Lithium Plating in Commercial Lithium-Ion Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), as efficient electrochemical energy storage devices, have been successfully commercialized. Lithium plating at anodes has been attracting increasing attention as batteries advance toward high energy density and large size, given its pivotal role in affecting the lifespan, safety, and fast-charging performance of LIBs. Lithium plating mostly happens during fast charging or charging at low temperatures. However, external pressure is often overlooked as an essential factor that influences lithium plating in LIBs. This review analyzes and discusses the influence of external pressure on performance for commercial LIBs, with a particular focus on lithium plating. Recent advances in this topic, including experimental results and mechanism analyses, are reviewed. Lithium plating is explored by examining the influence of pressure on the internal morphology and electrochemical behavior of batteries. It is emphasized that external pressure affects performance through ion transport, electron transport, and their heterogeneities, thereby increasing the risk of lithium plating in batteries. Subsequently, the rationale for external pressure mitigating lithium plating is elucidated from the perspective of the morphology optimization inside LIBs. Overall, this review provides valuable insights into the role of external pressure on lithium plating in commercial LIBs, practically guiding their rational design and development.