Thermo-Chemo-Mechanics and Failure of Electrode Particles in Lithium-Ion Batteries

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In addition to being the leading energy storage systems in portable electronic devices, the advent of (hybrid) electro vehicles has increased the use of lithium ion batteries tremendously. Main challenge in applications of lithium ion batteries is the limited lifetime along with the need for high capacity electrode materials. In recent years, new anodic and cathodic materials emerged to replace the conventional electrodes in lithium ion batteries. However, the theoretical capacity of such electrodes cannot be fully utilized due to complex thermo-electro-chemo-mechanical interactions, which lead to rapid degradation and fracture under charge-discharge cycles. The computational design of high performance electrode particles in lithium-ion batteries necessitates accurate descriptions of multi-physical interactions, leading to cracking in particles as a main cause of battery degradation. This research project targets the development of efficient theoretical and numerical foundations for the complex thermo-chemo-mechanics and fracture of electrode particles. Goal is the development of an advanced theoretical and computational framework for anodic and cathodic electrode particles. Based on a rigorous exploitation of new variational principles, the multi-physics bulk response is coupled with innovative phase field descriptions of fracture. The unified continuum-physical framework to be developed will cover the phenomena of electro-chemical diffusion, phase segregation, heating, elastic and plastic deformations at finite strains, and the degradation effects resulting from evolving cracks. The project intends to deliver models for a reliable simulation-based design of high performance elctrode particles in lithium ion batteries.