MIT reveals chemical embrittlement driving dendrite failures in solid-state batteries

MIT researchers reveal that chemical reactions at high currents weaken solid-state electrolytes, enabling dendrite growth at unexpectedly low stress. Using birefringence microscopy and cryogenic imaging, they show embrittlement—not just mechanical stress—limits solid-state batteries and suggest that safer, higher-energy storage will come from chemically stable, tougher electrolytes rather than simply stronger ones.