Phase transformations and fracture of battery materials

Devin T. O'Connor, Michael J. Welland, Wing Kam Liu, Peter W. Voorhees

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Although LiFePO4 has advantageous properties for electrical energy storage, it can lose some of its charging capacity when cycled. It has been suggested that crack formation is the main cause of the capacity loss. We shall discuss a multi-physics computational model to investigate the possible causes of fracture in single LiFePO4 particles. The model combines the recently developed reaction-limited phase-field model for Li-ion intercalation with a phase-field model for brittle fracture. We use our numerical model to simulate single LiFePO4 cathode particles during galvanostatic discharging as well as under no charging. It was found that because of the phase transformation and two-phase coexistence of LiFePO4, cracks grow due to large stresses at coherent phase boundaries. Phase nucleation at particle side facets was also examined and we show that pre-cracks grow that follow the high stresses at the coherent interface during charging.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationICF 2017 - 14th International Conference on Fracture
EditorsEmmanuel E. Gdoutos
PublisherInternational Conference on Fracture
Pages924-925
Number of pages2
ISBN (Electronic)9780000000002
StatePublished - 2017
Event14th International Conference on Fracture, ICF 2017 - Rhodes, Greece
Duration: Jun 18 2017Jun 20 2017

Publication series

NameICF 2017 - 14th International Conference on Fracture
Volume1

Conference

Conference14th International Conference on Fracture, ICF 2017
Country/TerritoryGreece
CityRhodes
Period6/18/176/20/17

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Building and Construction

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