On March 27, Professor Peter G. Bruce, a Fellow of the Royal Society, a member of the Academia Europaea, the German Academy of Sciences, a Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and a professor at the University of Oxford, was the guest speaker for the 209th Master Lecture Series at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU). He delivered a fascinating lecture titled "Solid-state batteries: a challenge of interfaces" at the Baoyugang Library's fifth-floor auditorium.
SJTU Vice President Xu Xueming, Dean of the Pu Yuan Academy of Future Technology Ni Jun, Party Secretary Yang Ming, and Executive Dean Jin Sun were among the distinguished guests present at the lecture.
Xu Xueming welcomed and thanked Professor Bruce, introducing his outstanding contributions to chemistry and electrochemistry, particularly in lithium-ion batteries, lithium-air batteries, and solid-state batteries. She expressed her hope that this face-to-face exchange would deepen students' understanding of solid-state battery development, clarify its application and market potential, and inspire their research interests.
Vice President Xu Xueming presented Professor Bruce with an honorary certificate from the Master Lecture Series and a commemorative gift, expressing the high respect and sincere gratitude of the SJTU faculty and students for his presence and academic insights.
The adoption of non-flammable solid electrolytes in place of liquid electrolytes represents a revolutionary breakthrough in the field of batteries, offering high energy density and safety. Despite the significant market potential of solid-state batteries, their commercialization faces numerous technical challenges, mainly due to mechanical-electrochemical coupling failures at solid-solid interfaces. Dendritic growth of lithium metal anodes, which causes battery short circuits, is a common cause of battery failure and poses potential safety hazards. Using the lithium metal anode-solid electrolyte interface as an example, Professor Bruce detailed how a three-electrode design can decouple the electrodeposition and stripping processes. He utilized in situ X-ray computed tomography (XCT) to monitor dendrite growth and interface evolution in real-time within a three-dimensional space. By combining XCT imaging results with electrochemical tests, he provided an in-depth analysis of the accumulation and evolution of interface pores, constructing a model of dendrite initiation and propagation in solid-state batteries, thus clarifying the failure mechanisms of the anode-solid electrolyte interface.
Based on the established interface failure model, Professor Bruce pointed out that the initiation and propagation of dendrites in solid-state batteries are discrete processes. Therefore, the short-circuit problem in solid-state batteries can be mitigated through interface modification or crack propagation deflection. Using silver-carbon interface layers and sandwich structure solid electrolytes as examples, he elaborated on their structural evolution and failure modes, as well as their impact on lithium deposition behavior during charge and discharge cycles, providing guidance for the future design of anode-solid electrolyte interfaces in solid-state batteries.
During the Q&A session, students and faculty actively engaged with Professor Bruce, asking questions about artificial intelligence in solid-state batteries, thermal runaway and management, ultra-thin solid electrolytes, and commercialization prospects. Professor Bruce provided detailed answers, emphasizing that the development of solid-state batteries opens up a new realm in battery technology. A deeper understanding of the working mechanisms will drive solid-state battery technology towards greater reliability and efficiency, making significant contributions to the future of electric vehicles and renewable energy development.