(Phys.org)—One of the biggest problems plaguing tall-energy,lithium-metal batteries is dendrites, which form when some of the lithium from the electrode begins to branch external the electrode and into the electrolyte, and causing short circuits. In order to control dendrite growth,researchers use membrane separators to try to contain the lithium, but so far no separator material has proved ideal: ceramic separators are brittle and form cracks, or polymer separators are mechanically feeble,and effective nanofiber separators hold so far been very difficult to fabricate (to make up, invent).
Source: phys.org