Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zhang, Delin, Lai, Yu-Cheng, Thurber, Kodi, Smith, Kai, Weker, Johanna N., Tolbert, Sarah, Balakrishna, Ananya Renuka
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.19982
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1866915358152065024
author Zhang, Delin
Lai, Yu-Cheng
Thurber, Kodi
Smith, Kai
Weker, Johanna N.
Tolbert, Sarah
Balakrishna, Ananya Renuka
author_facet Zhang, Delin
Lai, Yu-Cheng
Thurber, Kodi
Smith, Kai
Weker, Johanna N.
Tolbert, Sarah
Balakrishna, Ananya Renuka
contents Nanostructured electrodes with voids or interconnected pores accommodate large volume changes, shorten ion diffusion pathways, and enhance the structural reversibility of alloying electrodes. While these nanoporous features improve the performance of architected electrodes over bulk electrodes, they also act as geometric irregularities that localize and concentrate internal stresses. In this work, we investigate the hierarchical interplay between phase boundaries and nanoporous features at the microstructural scale and their collective role in mitigating chemo-mechanical failure at the engineering scale. Using Sb$\to$Li$_2$Sb$\to$Li$_3$Sb as a model system, we develop a continuum framework coupling lithium diffusion and reaction kinetics with the finite deformation of alloying electrodes. We analytically show that large volume changes in the Sb$\rightarrow$Li$_2$Sb transformation induce fracture, which nanoporous geometries can mitigate. Building on this, we develop a micromechanical model using a hyper-elastic neo-Hookean material law to predict the deformations accompanying the Li$_2$Sb$\to$Li$_3$Sb transformation. Our results reveal how diffusion and reaction kinetics shape phase boundary morphology, identify crack geometries likely to propagate, and show how carefully architected electrodes relieve stresses. These findings highlight critical design principles to optimize electrode lifespan and demonstrate a potential application of our continuum model as an electrode design tool.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_19982
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Modeling Finite Deformations in Alloying Electrodes -- A Closer Look at Cracks and Pores During Phase Transformation
Zhang, Delin
Lai, Yu-Cheng
Thurber, Kodi
Smith, Kai
Weker, Johanna N.
Tolbert, Sarah
Balakrishna, Ananya Renuka
Materials Science
Nanostructured electrodes with voids or interconnected pores accommodate large volume changes, shorten ion diffusion pathways, and enhance the structural reversibility of alloying electrodes. While these nanoporous features improve the performance of architected electrodes over bulk electrodes, they also act as geometric irregularities that localize and concentrate internal stresses. In this work, we investigate the hierarchical interplay between phase boundaries and nanoporous features at the microstructural scale and their collective role in mitigating chemo-mechanical failure at the engineering scale. Using Sb$\to$Li$_2$Sb$\to$Li$_3$Sb as a model system, we develop a continuum framework coupling lithium diffusion and reaction kinetics with the finite deformation of alloying electrodes. We analytically show that large volume changes in the Sb$\rightarrow$Li$_2$Sb transformation induce fracture, which nanoporous geometries can mitigate. Building on this, we develop a micromechanical model using a hyper-elastic neo-Hookean material law to predict the deformations accompanying the Li$_2$Sb$\to$Li$_3$Sb transformation. Our results reveal how diffusion and reaction kinetics shape phase boundary morphology, identify crack geometries likely to propagate, and show how carefully architected electrodes relieve stresses. These findings highlight critical design principles to optimize electrode lifespan and demonstrate a potential application of our continuum model as an electrode design tool.
title Modeling Finite Deformations in Alloying Electrodes -- A Closer Look at Cracks and Pores During Phase Transformation
topic Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.19982