Fracture of lithium-ion battery electrodes is found to contribute to capacity fade and reduce the lifespan of a battery. Traditional fracture models for batteries are restricted to consideration of a single, idealised particle; here, advanced X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging, an electro-chemo-mechanical model and a phase field fracture framework are combined to predict the void-driven fracture in the electrode particles of a realistic battery electrode microstructure. The electrode is shown to exhibit a highly heterogeneous electrochemical and fracture response that depends on the particle size and distance from the separator/current collector. The model enables prediction of increased cracking due to enlarged cycling voltage windows, cracking susceptibility as a function of electrode thickness, and damage sensitivity to discharge rate. This framework provides a platform that facilitates a deeper understanding of electrode fracture and enables the design of next-generation electrodes with higher capacities and improved degradation characteristics.
@article{arxiv.2202.09572,
title = {Cracking predictions of lithium-ion battery electrodes by X-ray computed tomography and modelling},
author = {Adam M. Boyce and Emilio Martínez-Pañeda and Aaron Wade and Ye Shui Zhang and Josh J. Bailey and Thomas M. M. Heenan and Dan J. L. Brett and Paul R. Shearing},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2202.09572},
year = {2022}
}