Estimating the thickness of diffusive solid electrolyte interface

• Published in: Science China. Physics, mechanics & astronomy Vol. 60; no. 6; pp. 61 - 68
• Main Authors: Wang, XiaoHe, Shen, WenHao, Huang, XianFu, Zang, JinLiang, Zhao, YaPu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing Science China Press 01.06.2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Astronomy; Battery cycles; Classical and Continuum Physics; Corrosion rate; Dimensional analysis; Discharge; Electrodes; Electrolytes; Lithium; Lithium-ion batteries; Mathematical analysis; Molecular dynamics; Observations and Techniques; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Rechargeable batteries; Solid electrolytes; Thickness; Transition zone; 不可逆容量损失; 估算; 分子动力学模拟; 固体电解质; 扩散; 时间估计; 界面厚度; 锂离子电池; solid electrolyte interface; thickness estimation; diffusion model; lithium-ion battery
• ISSN: 1674-7348; 1869-1927
• DOI: 10.1007/s11433-017-9031-2

electrolyte. The properties of lithium-ion （Li-ion） battery, such as cycle life, irreversible capacity loss, self-discharge rate, electrode corrosion and safety are usually ascribed to the quality of the SEI, which are highly dependent on the thickness. Thus, understanding the formation mechanism and the SEI thickness is of prime interest. First, we apply dimensional analysis to obtain an explicit relation between the thickness and the number density in this study. Then the SEI thickness in the initial charge-discharge cycle is analyzed and estimated for the first time using the Cahn-Hilliard phase-field model. In addition, the SEI thickness by molecular dynamics simulation validates the theoretical results. It has been shown that the established model and the simulation in this paper estimate the SEI thickness concisely within order-of-magnitude of nanometers. Our results may help in evaluating the performance of SEI and assist the future design of Li-ion battery.