  Safe, all-solid-state lithium metal batteries enable high energy density
applications, but suffer from instabilities during operation that lead to rough
interfaces between the metal and electrolyte and subsequently cause void
formation and dendrite growth that degrades performance and safety. Inspired by
the morphogenetic control of thin lamina such as tree leaves that robustly grow
into flat shapes -- we propose a range of approaches to control lithium metal
stripping and plating. To guide discovery of materials that will implement
these feedback mechanisms, we develop a reduced order model that captures
couplings between mechanics, interface growth, temperature, and electrochemical
variables. We find that long-range feedback is required to achieve true
interface stability, while approaches based on local feedback always eventually
grow into rough interfaces. All together, our study provides the beginning of a
practical framework for analyzing and designing stable electrochemical
interfaces in terms of the mechanical properties and the physical chemistry
that underlie their dynamics.
