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Predictive Theory of Electrochemical Ostwald Ripening for Electrodeposited Lithium Metal

Hanning Zhang, Oleg V. Yazyev, and Ruslan Yamaletdinov*

  • *Contact author: ruslan.yamaletdinov@epfl.ch
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PRX Energy 5, 033010 – Published 12 August, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/xqcq-f8q1

Abstract

Electrode morphology critically determines the stability and efficiency of lithium metal anodes, yet no predictive framework has explained how measurable parameters control deposition. Here we introduce the first theoretical model of electrochemical Ostwald ripening, capturing the competition between electroplating and surface-energy-driven redistribution and identifying it as the governing process behind morphology evolution in the nondendritic regime. The framework explicitly incorporates solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) resistance, electrolyte conductivity, electrode wettability, and current density, revealing the transition from a 2D SEI-limited to a 3D electrolyte-limited growth. The model yields analytical expressions for nucleus size, density, and distribution that quantitatively reproduce independent experimental results and establishes a direct link between plating conditions, morphology, and Coulombic efficiency. By providing experimentally accessible relationships between key parameters and deposition outcomes, the framework enables a predictive understanding of lithium plating and provides a broadly applicable basis for controlling electrodeposition morphology across diverse electrochemical systems.

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Popular Summary

One often-overlooked aspect of lithium electrodeposition is the redistribution of material between growing nuclei. While lithium is continuously supplied during plating, it is also transferred from smaller nuclei to larger ones through electrochemical Ostwald ripening, reducing the total interfacial energy of the deposit. Here, the authors show that the competition between deposition and this energy-driven redistribution governs how the number and size of the nuclei evolve, and thereby how ion transport and interfacial properties shape the final morphology. By expressing the competition quantitatively, the authors provide a predictive framework for lithium growth and, more broadly, for electrochemical growth at interfaces. These insights into plating morphology will support further advances in lithium-metal battery research, including improvements in performance, reliability, and safety.

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PRX Energy 5, 033010– Published 12 August, 2026
  • Received 12 February 2026
  • Revised 10 July 2026
  • Accepted 16 July 2026
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.

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