When we look at battery lifetime we see particle cracking as one of the mechanisms of capacity loss. Particle cracking is the mechanical fracture of particles in the cathode or anode materials and caused by stress on those particles. The primary driver is the charge discharge movement of Lithium Ions that results in the expansion and contraction of the electrodes. This is most severe in high-expansion materials such as silicon-containing anodes, where practical measures to manage the swelling are an active area of cell design.
Particle cracking can result in:
- loss of capacity
- disconnection of active material
- electrolyte side reactions
- gas formation
References
- A. Wade, A. V. Llewellyn, T. M. M. Heenan, C. Tan, D. J. L. Brett, Rhodri Jervis and P. R. Shearing, First Cycle Cracking Behaviour Within Ni-Rich Cathodes During High-Voltage Charging, Journal of The Electrochemical Society, Volume 170, Number 7, 2023
See also: Degradation Mechanisms, Cell Expansion