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"Anode‐free" solid‐state battery concepts are explored extensively as they promise a higher energy density with less material consumption and simple anode processing. Here, the homogeneous and uniform electrochemical deposition of alkali metal at the interface between current collector and solid electrolyte plays the central role to form a metal anode within the first cycle. While the cathodic deposition of lithium has been studied intensively, knowledge on sodium deposition is scarce. In this work, dense and uniform sodium layers of several microns thickness are deposited at the Cu|Na3.4Zr2Si2.4P0.6O12 interface with high reproducibility. At current densities of ≈1 mA∙cm−2, relatively uniform coverage is achieved underneath the current collector, as shown by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and 3D confocal microscopy. In contrast, only slight variations of the coverage are observed at different stack pressures. Early stages of the sodium metal growth are analyzed by in situ transmission electron microscopy revealing oriented growth of sodium. The results demonstrate that reservoir‐free ("anode‐free") sodium‐based batteries are feasible and may stimulate further research efforts in sodium‐based solid‐state batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, many efforts have been made to introduce reversible alkali metal anodes using solid electrolytes in order to increase the energy density of next‐generation batteries. In this respect, Na3.4Zr2Si2.4P0.6O12 is a promising solid electrolyte for solid‐state sodium batteries, due to its high ionic conductivity and apparent stability versus sodium metal. The formation of a kinetically stable interphase in contact with sodium metal is revealed by time‐resolved impedance analysis, in situ X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Based on pressure‐ and temperature‐dependent impedance analyses, it is concluded that the Na|Na3.4Zr2Si2.4P0.6O12 interface kinetics is dominated by current constriction rather than by charge transfer. Cross‐sections of the interface after anodic dissolution at various mechanical loads visualize the formed pore structure due to the accumulation of vacancies near the interface. The temporal evolution of the pore morphology after anodic dissolution is monitored by time‐resolved impedance analysis. Equilibration of the interface is observed even under extremely low external mechanical load, which is attributed to fast vacancy diffusion in sodium metal, while equilibration is faster and mainly caused by creep at increased external load. The presented information provides useful insights into a more profound evaluation of the sodium metal anode in solid‐state batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research shows that integrating lithium metal anodes can enhance battery energy density, but the high reactivity of lithium requires handling under inert conditions to avoid degradation. To overcome this, reservoir‐free cells (RFCs) are explored, where lithium metal is electrodeposited at the current collector (CC) and solid electrolyte (SE) interface during initial charging. The electrochemical properties of electrodeposited lithium are influenced by its morphology and microstructure, which impact lithium discharge capacity and pore formation. However, little is known about how to control the microstructure of electrodeposited lithium. This work experimentally characterizes the lithium microstructure at the steel|Li6PS5Cl interface using cryogenic ion beam milling, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), focusing on the effects of electrodeposition current density and lithium layer thickness. The results show that layer thickness, not current density, primarily governs the lithium microstructure. This “specimen thickness effect” is qualitatively described using a Monte Carlo Potts model and indicates that electrodeposited lithium metal quickly equilibrates at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sophisticated IrO2(110)‐RuO2(110)/Ru(0001) model electrodes are employed in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) under acidic conditions. The potential‐induced pitting corrosion of such electrodes is confirmed by a variety of experimental techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS), and operando scanning flow cell‐inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SFC‐ICP‐MS). The structure of the pits is reminiscent of a cylinder (evidenced by focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy: FIB‐SEM), where the inner surface of the pits is covered by hydrous RuO2 (cyclic voltammetry, ToF‐SIMS) that is formed by electrochemical oxidation of the metallic Ru(0001) substrate. The time evolution of the corrosion process at a fixed electrode potential (1.48 V vs. SHE) is followed via cyclic voltammetry and SEM. The passivating IrO2(110) layer results in an "induction period" for the pit growth that is followed by rapid corrosion of the RuO2(110)/Ru(0001) substrate. The observed narrow and time‐independent size distribution relative to the mean size of the pits is attributed to a sluggish removal of the corrosion products by diffusion across the cracks of the pits covering IrO2 layer, leading to steady state corrosion during a total polarization time of 20 to 60 minutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]