@article{Zhang2026, 
author = {Fan Zhang and Di Lu and Peitao Xiao and Xianxian Shi and Shu Hong and Yufang Chen},
title = {Decoding lithium plating evolution at ultralow temperatures through real-time FBG strain monitoring},
year = {2026},
journal = {Nano Research},
volume = {19},
number = {9},
pages = {94908758},
keywords = {Li-plating, strain monitoring, fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor, battery degradation},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/NR.2026.94908758},
doi = {10.26599/NR.2026.94908758},
abstract = {Real-time detection of lithium plating under extreme conditions is critical for battery safety. Here, we use embedded fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors to achieve real-time monitoring of mechanical strain evolution in operating graphite pouch cells. At ultralow temperatures (−20 and −30 °C), we observe an anomalous suppression in differential strain (dε/dQ) during late-stage charging. Specifically, the strain generation rate is severely constrained, dropping to approximately 0.1 με·mAh−1 (με = 10−6 strain) at high state-of-charge (SOC)—a stark contrast to the normal intercalation baseline of ~ 0.3 με·mAh−1 observed under milder, non-plating conditions. Through synchronized electrochemical analysis and post-mortem characterization, we show that this mechanical anomaly reflects a fundamental shift in plating behavior: At cryogenic temperatures, internal mechanical constraints imposed by prior plating and solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) densification suppress further expansion, altering the progression of lithium deposition. The real-time strain signals also reveal a dynamic competition between SEI fracture–repair cycles and lithium re-plating, providing insight into coupled degradation mechanisms governing battery failure. This work establishes an in-situ diagnostic tool for battery failure and offers new mechanistic understanding of lithium plating under extreme conditions.}
}