Three-Dimensional Visualization of Lithium Metal Anode via Low-Dose Cryogenic Electron Microscopy Tomography

Summary The structure of lithium (Li) metal anode, including the Li metal and the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), is critical to the investigation of cycle stability or decay mechanisms. The three-dimensional (3D) visualization of Li metal and SEI, however, has not been demonstrated yet, due to the lack of 3D characterization techniques and the susceptibility of Li metal anode toward oxygen, moisture as well as electron beam. Herein, we introduce a successful 3D presentation of deposited Li metal and SEI established via low-dose cryogenic electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) tomography. The Li metal anode are imaged in low-dose mode at different tilt angles, and then aligned and reconstructed into a 3D image through an expectation-maximization algorithm. The spherical Li deposits and SEI are confirmed in the 3D tomography of Li metal anode. It is also discovered that the Li metal corrodes and SEI turns concave due to possible self-discharge after long-time rest.