Chemomechanics: friend or foe of the "AND problem" of solid-state batteries?

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in understanding the chemomechanical factors affecting solid-state batteries, highlighting challenges and future directions for designing failure-resistant lithium-ion batteries with solid electrolytes.

Contribution

It synthesizes current knowledge on mechanical stresses, fracture, and void formation in solid electrolytes, identifying key gaps and proposing directions for future research.

Findings

Mechanical stresses influence failure mechanisms

Void formation impacts battery longevity

Gaps in understanding hinder design improvements

Abstract

Solid electrolytes are widely considered as the enabler of lithium metal anodes for safe, durable, and high energy density rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Despite the promise, failure mechanisms associated with solid-state batteries are not well-established, largely due to limited understanding of the chemomechanical factors governing them. We focus on the recent developments in understanding solid-state aspects including the effects of mechanical stresses, constitutive relations, fracture, and void formation, and outline the gaps in the literature. We also provide an overview of the manufacturing and processing of solid-state batteries in relation to chemomechanics. The gaps identified provide concrete directions towards the rational design and development of failure-resistant solid-state batteries.