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PEKLAR, Rok, MIKAC, Urška, SERŠA, Igor. The effect of battery configuration on dendritic growth : A magnetic resonance microscopy study on symmetric lithium cells. Batteries. 2024, vol. 10, art. 165, 13 str. ISSN 2313-0105. https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/5/165.

The potential of metallic lithium to become the anode material for next-generation batteries is hampered by significant challenges, chief among which is dendrite growth during battery charging. These dendrite structures not only impair battery performance but also pose safety risks. In this study, a recently introduced indirect imaging approach which is based on 1H MRI of the electrolyte was used to sequentially image dendrite growth in different configurations of symmetric lithium cells. The measured sequential images allowed for the measurement of dendrite growth in each cell using volumetric analysis. The growth results confirmed our theoretical prediction that the growth across cells is uneven in a parallel circuit, and even in a series circuit.

Hana Kokot, Boštjan Kokot and Iztok Urbančič (Laboratory of Biophysics, Condensed Matter Physics Department, F5) have, together with colleagues from the Faculty of Pharmacy (University of Ljubljana), published a paper titled Amphiphilic coumarin-based probes for live-cell STED nanoscopy of plasma membrane in the journal Bioorganic Chemistry.

The authors synthesized and characterized a novel amphiphilic fluorescent label SHE-2N, which enables quick and long-lasting fluorescent labeling of the outer cell membranes of living cells. This new label for fluorescence microscopy is also suitable for high-resolution STED microscopy and two-photon microscopy due to its high photostability and appropriate spectral characteristics.