Predicting the onset of lithium plating by the full-cell voltage: A pseudo-P curve approach
Journal
Energy Storage Materials
Journal Volume
84
Start Page
104790
ISSN
24058297
Date Issued
2026-01
Author(s)
Abstract
Fast-charging lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) may cause the formation of lithium metal deposits, known as lithium plating, on the anode, which not only reduces battery capacity but also increases the risk of internal short circuits, posing safety hazards. However, determining the onset of lithium plating solely from full-cell data of commercial LIBs, without disassembly, remains a challenge. To address this, we introduce a novel experimental method that generates a pseudo-P curve. This curve shares the same profile as the plating current curve (which can be simulated but not directly measured), varying only by a specific vertical scaling factor. It is found that the intersection of the two curves pinpoints the onset of lithium deposition. Constructing the pseudo-P curve involves identifying the end time of lithium stripping and the corresponding net discharge capacity by varying the charging cutoff voltages. To validate the method’s ability to correctly detect lithium plating onset, direct electrochemical simulations are conducted, showing a prediction error within 3.44 % of total capacity. The correctness of this method is further supported by indirect experimental validation, based on the presence or absence of stripping signals when the charging duration is shorter or longer than the lithium plating onset point. Using the plating onset as a turning point, this method effectively guides charging strategies through current reduction at those turning moments. The proposed step-charging strategy fully prevents lithium plating while achieving a Coulomb efficiency of 99.7 % under the 2 C step-charging scenario.
Subjects
Charging strategy
Lithium plating
Lithium-ion batteries
Onset of plating
SDGs
Publisher
Elsevier B.V.
Type
journal article