  Dendrite free electrodeposition of lithium metal is necessary for the
adoption of high energy density rechargeable lithium metal batteries. Here, we
demonstrate a new mechanism of using a liquid crystalline electrolyte to
suppress dendrite growth with a lithium metal anode. A nematic liquid
crystalline electrolyte modifies the kinetics of electrodeposition by
introducing additional overpotential due to its bulk distortion and anchoring
free energy. By extending the phase-field model, we simulate the morphological
evolution of the metal anode and explore the role of bulk distortion and
anchoring strengths on the electrodeposition process. We find that adsorption
energy of liquid crystalline molecules on lithium surface can be a good
descriptor for the anchoring energy and obtain it using first-principles
density functional theory calculations. Unlike other extrinsic mechanisms, we
find that liquid crystals with high anchoring strengths can ensure smooth
electrodeposition of lithium metal, thus paving the way for practical
applications in rechargeable batteries based on metal anodes.
