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Lithium-ion batteries: Silicon islands under strain

Nature Reviews Materials volume 1, Article number: 16077 (2016) Cite this article

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Controlled strain loading coupled with atomic force microscopy (AFM) reveals new insight into the failure mechanisms of solid–electrolyte interphases (SEIs) of lithium-ion battery anodes. This method, reported by Brian Sheldon and co-workers in ACS Energy Letters, is expected to lead to higher-accuracy models of SEI degradation and to improve the lifetime of lithium-ion batteries.

Rechargeable battery lifetimes depend on the formation and subsequent integrity of a SEI passivating film on the anode surface. In particular, for the development of high-capacity anodes for next-generation batteries, SEI degradation is a major limiting factor. Strain induced in the SEI through expansion and contraction of the anode during lithiation (charge) and delithiation (discharge) can lead to cracking and, ultimately, capacity loss; this is especially relevant for silicon anodes, which undergo volume changes of 300% or more.

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References

  1. Kumar, R. et al. In situ and operando investigations of failure mechanisms of the solid electrolyte interphase on silicon electrodes. ACS Energy Lett. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.6b00284 (2016)

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  1. Adam Brotchie
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Brotchie, A. Lithium-ion batteries: Silicon islands under strain. Nat Rev Mater 1, 16077 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/natrevmats.2016.77

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/natrevmats.2016.77

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