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Research Digest — 2026-07-19

Solid Electrolytes & Roadmaps

1. Solid-state electrolytes for next-generation batteries: Recent advances and interfacial challenges

Source: Journal of Power Sources (S0378775325017069) · 📅 2026-06-15 · ↗ Open paper

Review covering the evolution and recent advances in composite solid-state electrolytes, with emphasis on material design, interfacial engineering, and performance optimization. Discusses strategies for reducing interfacial resistance and improving cycling stability.

Relevance to DENG.Group

Provides broad context for the group's solid electrolyte research. The interfacial engineering strategies are relevant to Umang's interface work and the composite approach connects to Naibing's polymer/composite simulations.

2. Self-healable bio-based solid polymer electrolytes incorporating functional additives

Source: Materials Advances (D6MA00073H) · 📅 2026-06-01 · ↗ Open paper

Reports self-healable bio-based solid polymer electrolytes with ionic conductivity of 10^-3 S cm^-1 at elevated temperatures, incorporating functional additives. The self-healing mechanism offers a route to improving long-term durability of polymer electrolytes.

Relevance to DENG.Group

Relevant to Naibing Wu's solid polymer electrolyte and composite simulation work. The self-healing concept and bio-based polymer design represent new directions that could inspire computational studies.

3. Polymer-Assisted Supercooled Lithium Salts: Nonflammable Single-Ion Conducting Liquid Electrolytes

Source: Advanced Energy Materials (aenm.202505229) · 📅 2026-05-20 · ↗ Open paper

Introduces polymer-assisted supercooled lithium salts as a new class of nonflammable single-ion conducting liquid electrolytes, combining the safety of solid electrolytes with the processability of liquids. Bridges the gap between polymer and liquid electrolyte design paradigms.

Relevance to DENG.Group

Relevant to Naibing's polymer electrolyte work. The supercooled salt concept represents an interesting hybrid approach that could inspire new MD simulation studies of ion transport mechanisms.

Dendrite Growth & Phase Field Simulation

4. Atomic mechanism of lithium dendrite penetration in solid electrolytes

Source: Nature Communications (s41467-025-57259-x) · 📅 2025-12-20 · ↗ Open paper

Reveals that dynamically generated lithium depositions lead to continuous accumulation of internal stress, culminating in fracture of the solid electrolyte. Provides atomic-scale mechanistic understanding of how Li dendrites propagate through SEs, connecting electrochemical deposition with mechanical failure.

Relevance to DENG.Group

Highly relevant to Shoutong's dendrite simulation work. The atomic-scale mechanism provides direct comparison points for phase-field and atomistic simulations of dendrite penetration.

Grain Boundaries in Solid Electrolytes

5. Grain Boundaries in Ceramic Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries

Source: Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research (acs.iecr.5c03294) · 📅 2026-06-01 · ↗ Open paper

Comprehensive review exploring the multifaceted influence of grain boundaries in ceramic solid electrolytes and metal anodes, including their impact on ionic and electronic conductivity, mechanical properties, and dendrite susceptibility. Covers strategies for grain boundary engineering to improve performance.

Relevance to DENG.Group

Core reference for Cheng Peng's grain boundary research in solid electrolytes. Provides a systematic overview of how GB properties affect transport and stability, directly relevant to his simulation work.