Seminars

Mechanical failure in batteries is ubiquitous and is well recognized. Less understood is the mechanical behavior of battery materials under chemical load, and the impact of stress on the kinetics of mass transport, charge transfer, interfacial reactions, and hence the potential and capacity of the electrochemical system. This talk focuses on the interplay of mechanics, such as large deformation, plasticity, and fracture, with chemical reactions in Li-ion batteries. I will discuss the theories of coupled diffusion and stress, stress regulated interfacial reactions, reactive flow, and corrosive fracture in batteries. I will introduce our recently developed operando experiments which probe the continuous evolution of material states during Li reactions and steady degradation of mechanical strength in batteries over cycles.  Finite element modeling and atomistic simulations that emphasize on mechanistic understanding will also be discussed.