Enhancing Safety and Performance in Energy Storage Systems: Strategies for Mitigating Lithium Dendrite-Induced Separator Penetration and Internal Short Circuits

Abstract

The growth and penetration of lithium dendrites through separators during cycling is a root cause of internal short circuits, posing a major safety threat to high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries. This review systematically analyzes the electrochemical mechanisms governing dendrite growth, summarizes advanced characterization techniques, and critiques mainstream suppression strategies, including electrolyte engineering and all-solid-state batteries. To address challenges under high-energy-density demands, a nonaqueous precipitation method─a solution-based interfacial engineering technique that offers inherent compatibility with roll-to-roll processing─is discussed as an emerging strategy, which constructs a synergistic three-layer interface system to simultaneously achieve mechanical blocking, homogeneous ion transport, and dynamic self-healing. By elucidating fundamental mechanisms and mitigation strategies, this review further underscores their critical implications for enhancing the safety, longevity, and reliability of next-generation batteries, proposing an industrially viable pathway toward high-safety, long-cycle-life energy storage systems for electric vehicles and grid-scale applications.