MIT advance paves way for high-density batteries that handle stress

The field of battery research is riddled with roadblocks and bottlenecks, but there is one problem that rears its head more than most. Branch-like growths called dendrites continue to plague next-gen battery designs of many types, but new MIT-led research claims to have uncovered the root of the problem, and shown how it can be negated through the clever use of mechanical stress.Dendrites are thin, tentacle-like metal filaments that can develop on the electrode of a lithium battery as it is cycled, snaking their way into the electrolyte to cause problems like short-circuiting, undesirable heating and even fire. We’ve seen all sorts of inventive approaches to stifling the growth of dendrites, but the authors of this new study believe they’ve brought new much-needed clarity to the issue.The scientists were experimenting with a solid-state battery, an architecture that features a…

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