Elucidating Metal Deposition Mechanism in Battery Overcharging for Safety Assessment

A research team led by Prof. Kazuma Gotoh (Okayama University) and Dr. Kenjiro Hashi (NIMS) has successfully observed, in real time, the phenomenon of metal deposition at the anode during overcharging of lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries. This work clarifies the mechanism behind overcharging, which can lead to battery fires. The results were published in the journal "Journal of Materials Chemistry A" and selected as a 2020 Hot Paper. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis, the team revealed that differences in electrode structure affect the likelihood of metal deposition. This research provides valuable insights for improving battery safety and performance.