Dendrite Growth on Metal Anodes: A Unified Framework Bridging Diffusion and Interfacial Kinetics

Metal anodes hold great promise for next-generation high-energy-density batteries but are severely limited by dendrite formation, which compromises their efficiency and stability. Predictive modeling is essential for elucidating dendrite evolution and guiding mitigation strategies. While existing models address thermodynamic, kinetic, and mass transport individually, an accurate and comprehensive framework remains lacking. This Perspective revisits the classical Sand’s time model and extends it by coupling electrochemical kinetics and ion diffusion, establishing a unified model for dendrite growth. This framework clarifies the roles of kinetics and diffusion in governing dendrite growth and informs suppression strategies. It also reveals their joint effects in the presence of solid–electrolyte interphases and under varying temperature conditions. By advancing the fundamental understanding of dendrite formation, this work offers guidance for stabilizing metal anodes and enabling reliable metal batteries.