Elucidating the complex interplay between thermodynamics, kinetics, and electrochemistry in battery electrodes through phase-field modeling

This article highlights applications of phase-field modeling to electrochemical systems, with a focus on battery electrodes. We first provide an overview on the physical processes involved in electrochemical systems and applications of the phase-field approach to understand the thermodynamic and kinetic mechanisms underlying these processes. We employ two examples to highlight how realistic thermodynamics and kinetics can naturally be incorporated into phase-field modeling of electrochemical processes. One is a composite battery cathode with an intercalation compound (LixFePO4) as the electrochemically active material, and the other is a displacement reaction compound (Li–Cu–TiS2). With the input parameters mostly from atomistic calculations and experimental measurements, phase-field simulations allowed us to untangle the interactions among transport, reaction, electricity, chemistry, and thermodynamics that lead to highly complex evolution of the materials within battery electrodes. The implications of these observations for battery performance and degradation are discussed. Graphical abstract