Challenges and issues facing lithium metal for solid-state rechargeable batteries

The commercial use of lithium metal batteries was delayed because of dendrite formation on the surface of the lithium electrode, and the difficulty finding a suitable electrolyte that has both the mechanical strength and ionic conductivity required for solid electrolytes. Recently, strategies have developed to overcome these difficulties, so that these batteries are currently an option for different applications, including electric cars. In this work, we review these strategies, and discuss the different routes that are promising for progress in the near future. [Display omitted] •Review of the strategies developed to overcome the difficulties of using lithium metal.•Optimization of the surface of metallic lithium.•Description of the solid-state electrolytes facing the challenges for electric vehicles.