Effects of external mechanical loading on stress generation during lithiation in Li-ion battery electrodes

TL;DR

This study models how external mechanical loading influences stress distribution during lithiation in Li-ion battery electrodes, revealing that external stress significantly affects stress evolution over time, impacting battery performance.

Contribution

The paper introduces a coupled model accounting for external mechanical loading effects on stress generation during lithiation in thin plate electrodes, highlighting the asymmetric stress distribution and time-dependent influence.

Findings

External compression increases lithiation-induced stresses.

External tension decreases lithiation-induced stresses.

Stress effects become more pronounced with longer diffusion times.

Abstract

Li-ion batteries are ineluctably subjected to external mechanical loading or stress gradient. Such stress can be induced in battery electrode during fabrication and under normal operation. In this paper, we develop a model for stresses generated during lithiation in the thin plate electrode considering the effects of external mechanical loading. It is found that diffusion-induced stresses are asymmetrically distributed through the thickness of plate due to the coupling effects of asymmetrically distributed external mechanical stress. At the very early stage during Li-ions insertion, the effects of the external mechanical loading is quite limited and unobvious. With the diffusion time increasing, the external mechanical loading exerts a significant influence on the evolution of stresses generated in the electrode. External compressed electrode is inclined to increase the value of stresses generated during lithiation, while external tensed electrode tends to decrease the value of stresses, and as the diffusion time increases, the effects of the external mechanical loading on the stresses generated during lithiation become more obvious.