Method and system for charging a lithium metal battery

A method for charging a battery, the method comprising:

• arranging the battery to include a lithium metal anode, a separator, and an electrolytic material;
• determining a charging current profile for the lithium metal anode of the battery;
• determining an increasing current charging protocol based upon the charging current profile, wherein the increasing current charging protocol includes incrementally changing the charging current over time during a charging event based upon a time-based maximum permissible overpotential on the lithium metal anode that obviates a change in a parameter of one of the lithium metal anode, the separator, or the electrolytic material;
• and
• employing the increasing current charging protocol to rapidly charge the battery during the charging event.

A system for electrically charging a lithium metal battery employing an electric power source, comprising:

• a charge controller including an increasing current charging protocol;
• wherein the charge controller is electrically connected to the lithium metal battery;
• wherein the charge controller is arranged to employ the increasing current charging protocol to control electric power flow between the electric power source and the lithium metal battery;
• wherein the increasing current charging protocol includes incrementally changing the charging current over time during a charging event based upon a time-based maximum permissible overpotential on a lithium metal anode that obviates a change in the parameter of the lithium metal anode;
• and
• wherein the increasing current charging protocol includes algorithmic code, the algorithmic code being executable to rapidly charge the lithium metal battery based upon the time-based maximum permissible overpotential on the lithium metal anode that obviates the change in the parameter of the lithium metal anode during the charging event.