Author ORCID Identifier:
Date of Graduation
5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Materials Engineering (MS)
Degree Level
Graduate
Department
Materials Science & Engineering
Advisor/Mentor
Meng, Xiangbo
Committee Member
Kohanek, Julia
Second Committee Member
Zou, Min
Third Committee Member
Coridan, Robert
Keywords
Anode; Battery; Cryogenic; Interface; Lithium; MLD
Abstract
Lithium (Li) metal is a highly promising anode material for next-generation energy storage systems due to its outstanding theoretical capacity and low electrochemical potential. However, its commercialization implementation has been hindered due to interfacial instability and uncontrollable dendrite formation, leading to poor cycling efficiency and thermal runaway. Among the most promising stabilization strategies, protective interfacial coatings have emerged as an effective solution to promote more uniform Li deposition and suppress erratic morphological inconsistencies. In particular, molecular layer deposition (MLD) enables uniform film thickness through layer-by-layer deposits, offering a highly versatile approach to protective interfacial layers. In addition to interfacial engineering, externally applied pressure can significantly influence Li-ion deposition behavior through its mechanical constraints. The magnitude, direction, and other internal variables of the system affect Li nucleation density, growth morphology, and structural evolution. This thesis presents an in-situ optical microscopy (OM) technique designed to directly observe Li metal morphology evolution during an electrochemical deposition, both with MLD coatings and under controlled mechanical pressure. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) also were employed in this study. The long-term cyclability of thicker LiGL coatings are then demonstrated using cryogenic SEM (cryo-SEM) to systematically freeze, cut, and observe the morphology differences. This combined investigation provides fundamental insights into the dynamic interactions between interfacial modification and mechanical constraints to regulate Li growth behavior.
Citation
Mondl, C. (2026). Study on the Effects of Molecular Layer Deposition Coating and Mechanical Pressure on Lithium Metal Anodes. Graduate Theses and Dissertations Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/6227
