Small cells have more homogeneous internal temperatures and local State-of-charge due to smaller overall currents. Therefore, local Lithium deposition is less likely in smaller cells. (See Cell size tradeoff.) Related: Macro-scale inhomogeneities make semi-empirical and data-driven cell models more attractive than bottom-up physics-based models.
Similarly, thinner anode is less susceptible to Lithium plating because of the smaller overall difference in Lithium concentration surrounding anode particles near the current collector (lowest concentration) and particles near the separator (highest concentration). The chart below models overpotential depending on the distance in the anode from the separator (x-axis):
Anode particles which are close to the separator also reach high state-of-charge sooner than the particles which are close to the current collector. This will also contribute to uneven Lithium plating.
Related:
Lithium plating as unwanted side reaction in commercial Li-ion cells – A review