Researchers from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) conducted calculations to assess the tendency of anodes of different materials to form dendrites - branched crystals that lead to short circuits and explosions of batteries. The most explosive anode was lithium-indium, and the safest was copper.

Why do batteries explode

As gazeta.ru explains, dendrites form on the anode, but over time they grow to the cathode, which causes a short circuit and explosion. Their appearance is associated with the design features of the battery and the materials used to make it.

Lithium-ion batteries have become most widespread in recent years due to their high capacity, but they are at risk of explosions, especially if charged incorrectly, for example, in the cold.

How the study was conducted

MIPT scientists modeled the process of dendrite growth on anodes made of three materials:

  • Lithium
  • Lithium-indium
  • Copper

Machine learning methods and density functional theory were used for calculations. They studied the adsorption energy and diffusion rate of lithium on the surfaces of these anodes.

Key findings

  • The lithium-indium anode showed the worst properties, making it the most dangerous material for batteries.
  • The copper anode turned out to be the most resistant to dendrite formation, making it preferable from a safety standpoint.

What do these results tell us?

The data obtained will help battery developers preliminarily assess explosion safety and select suitable materials for creating electrodes, including new synthesized substances.

As Ivan Kruglov, head of the MIPT Laboratory of Computer-Aided Materials Design, noted, the results of the study may become an important step towards creating safer and more efficient chemical power sources for electronic devices.