Particle- and crack-size dependency of lithium-ion battery materials LiFePO<sub>4</sub>

Michael A. Stamps; Jeffrey W. Eischen; Hsiao-Ying Shadow Huang; Michael A. Stamps; Jeffrey W. Eischen; Hsiao-Ying Shadow Huang

doi:10.3934/matersci.2016.1.190

AIMS Materials Science

2016, Volume 3, Issue 1: 190-203. doi: 10.3934/matersci.2016.1.190

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Particle- and crack-size dependency of lithium-ion battery materials LiFePO₄

1.
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, North Carolina State University, R3311 Engineering Building 3, Campus Box 7910,911 Oval Drive, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
2.
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, North Carolina State University, R3290 Engineering Building 3, Campus Box 7910,911 Oval Drive, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
3.
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, North Carolina State University, R3158 Engineering Building 3, Campus Box 7910,911 Oval Drive, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA

Received: 09 November 2015 Accepted: 31 January 2016 Published: 02 February 2016

Lithium-ion batteries have become a widely-used commodity for satisfying the world’s mobile power needs. However, the mechanical degradation of lithium-ion batteries initiated by micro cracks is considered to be a bottleneck for advancing the current technology. This study utilizes a finite element method-based virtual crack closure technique to obtain particle- and crack-size-dependent estimates of mixed-mode energy release rates and stress intensity factors. Interfacial cracks in orthotropic bi-materials are considered in the current study, whereas the crack extension along the interface is assumed. The results show that energy release rate, stress intensity factor, and the propensity of crack extension are particle- and crack-size- dependent. In particular, our results show that for smaller plate-like LiFePO₄ particles (100 nm × 45 nm), a crack has lesser tendency to extend if crack-to-particle size is less than 0.2, and for 200 nm × 90 nm particles, similar results are obtained for crack-to-particle sizes of less than 0.15. However, for larger particles (500 nm × 225 nm), it requires an almost flawless particle to have no crack extension. Therefore, the current study provides insight into the fracture mechanics of LiFePO₄ and the associated crack-to-particle size dependency to prevent crack extensions.
- Lithium-ion batteries,
- cracks,
- finite element method,
- virtual crack closure technique,
- LiFePO₄
Citation: Michael A. Stamps, Jeffrey W. Eischen, Hsiao-Ying Shadow Huang. Particle- and crack-size dependency of lithium-ion battery materials LiFePO4[J]. AIMS Materials Science, 2016, 3(1): 190-203. doi: 10.3934/matersci.2016.1.190

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Abstract

Lithium-ion batteries have become a widely-used commodity for satisfying the world’s mobile power needs. However, the mechanical degradation of lithium-ion batteries initiated by micro cracks is considered to be a bottleneck for advancing the current technology. This study utilizes a finite element method-based virtual crack closure technique to obtain particle- and crack-size-dependent estimates of mixed-mode energy release rates and stress intensity factors. Interfacial cracks in orthotropic bi-materials are considered in the current study, whereas the crack extension along the interface is assumed. The results show that energy release rate, stress intensity factor, and the propensity of crack extension are particle- and crack-size- dependent. In particular, our results show that for smaller plate-like LiFePO₄ particles (100 nm × 45 nm), a crack has lesser tendency to extend if crack-to-particle size is less than 0.2, and for 200 nm × 90 nm particles, similar results are obtained for crack-to-particle sizes of less than 0.15. However, for larger particles (500 nm × 225 nm), it requires an almost flawless particle to have no crack extension. Therefore, the current study provides insight into the fracture mechanics of LiFePO₄ and the associated crack-to-particle size dependency to prevent crack extensions.

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