Quantitative investigation of the influence of electrode morphology in the electro-chemo-mechanical response of Li-ion batteries

Abstract: In Li-ion batteries the electrochemical potential drives the redox reactions occurring at the interface between electrolyte and storage material, typically active particles for porous electrodes, allowing Li ions intercalation/extraction from electrodes. The limiting factor of the process is not solely related to the electrochemical affinity, but also to structural features as the morphology of the electrodes. In this note, the relevance of the electrodes architecture is investigated numerically, in terms of the electro-chemo-mechanical response of a battery cell with homogeneous electrodes and conventional liquid electrolyte. A suitable design of the electrodes induces major increments of battery efficiency.