Computer simulation of negative electrode operation in lithium—ion battery: Galvanostatic discharge, porous electrode model and film model

Abstract

Computer simulation of the structure and methods of operation (galvanostatic discharge) of the negative electrode of a lithium-ion battery is performed. Two possible models of the active anode layer were compared. 1. The model of porous active layer (mixture of active substance grains with grains of electrolyte). Here, the electrochemical process occurs within a porous active layer. 2. The film model (constant-thickness layer) of pure active substance (intercalating agent) grains without admixture of grains of electrolyte. In this case, the electrochemical reaction occurs only on the planar active electrode layer/interelectrode space interface. In both cases, the optimum working parameters of anode active layers were calculated: porous active layer thickness (in the film model, this was the calculation parameter), duration of full anode discharge, specific electric capacitance and finite difference between the intercalating agent/electrolyte potentials at the active anode layer/interelectrode space interface. It is found that each of these two models has its advantages and faults. Specific electric capacitance C cannot exceed the values of the order of magnitude of 10 C/cm2 when a porous active layer is used. Whereas in the film model, much higher values of C may be obtained: tens and even hundreds of C/cm2. On the other hand, in the case of anode discharge, the reasonable discharge current density value, its maximum value, at which practically full recovery of lithium atoms from active intercalating agent grains is still possible, proves to be by orders of magnitude higher in the case of an anode with a porous active layer, as compared with a film-type anode. Thus, in the case of development of electrode active layers of lithium-ion batteries, there is a possibility of choosing from two variants. There is the variant of an active film-type layer providing high capacitance values, but low discharge current density. Or there is another variant: a porous active layer with limited capacitance but then much higher values of discharge current density.