Lithium plating refers to the phenomenon of forming metal lithium deposits on the negative electrode surface of lithium-ion batteries, which usually occurs under conditions such as rapid charging, low-temperature charging, or battery aging. It is an irreversible or partially reversible side reaction and is considered one of the key mechanisms that trigger capacity degradation, safety risks, and the formation of lithium dendrites.
During normal charging, lithium ions are embedded into the crystal structure of the negative electrode (such as graphite). However, under the following conditions, lithium ions cannot be embedded in time and are directly reduced to metallic lithium on the surface of the negative electrode:
