Extended Data Table 2 Threshold electron doses and primary damage mechanisms observed for relevant materials

From: Cryo-STEM mapping of solid–liquid interfaces and dendrites in lithium-metal batteries

  1. All of the damage thresholds listed are for cryogenic samples under a 300-kV electron beam. The primary damage mechanism of lithium is mass loss. While a very small amount of oxide can form, this is much less than the initial oxide impurities in an uncycled electrode, and occurs at more than 105 e− Å−2. Li2O2 and LiOH both initially suffer mass loss at or above 104 e− Å−2 and subsequently begin converting to Li2O at higher doses, whereas Li2O suffers only mass loss and no change in fine structure. LiH is stable to above 104 e− Å−2, with mass loss occurring above this and little to no oxidation. The electrolyte material damages differently at different doses, with slight structural modifications occurring at low doses and mass loss and changes in fine structure occurring above 103 e− Å−2. At 104 e− Å−2, a substantial portion of the mass is lost, leaving behind the carbonate portion of the solvent molecules, the fine structure of which is still intact at this dose.
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