Phase-field modelling for degradation/failure research in lithium battery: Progress and prospects

Degradation of materials is one of the most critical aging mechanisms affecting the performance of lithium batteries. Among the various approaches to investigate battery aging, phase-field modelling (PFM) has emerged as a widely used numerical method for simulating the evolution of the phase interface as a function of space and time during material phase transition process. Moreover, PFM coupled with multi-physics analyses is particularly well-suited for investigating the mesoscale microstructural evolution of materials, providing quantitative understandings of aging and failure mechanisms in lithium batteries. In this paper, we comprehensively overview the state-of-art applications of PFM in the research of degradation and failure processes in lithium batteries, particularly focusing on the theoretical framework and development of the PFMs for lithium deposition/dissolution, phase separation, and crack propagation. Furthermore, we summarize the existing challenges and prospect some future developments in PFMs, aiming to offer new insights into the advancement of PFM and ultimately enhance the development of lithium batteries.