Implication of Non-Uniform Anode Particle Morphology on Lithium-Ion Cell Performance

Abstract

The present works deals with the implications of non-uniform anode particle morphology on charging and discharging characteristics of Lithium-ion cell, especially for ultra-fast charging applications. The one-dimensional isothermal model is employed to analyze the effect of C-rate, porosity, tortuosity, and particle geometry for a range of non-uniform anode particle size distribution numerically. Our study reports that the value of capacity and specific power of the cell is found to be maximum when the particle size decreases along the electrode length. In contrast, capacity and specific power are minimum when anode particle size increase along the anode length. Moreover, a significant improvement in the performance of the Lithium-ion battery is found at ultra-fast charging when non-uniform particle distribution is employed. Additionally, a strong interplay of particle distribution and microstructural attributes viz. porosity and tortuosity on cell performance are revealed for the charging-discharging cycle. Further, the capacity of the cell is found to be maximum when the particle geometry is spherical. We anticipate that the results can inspire further improvement in ionic transport for ultrafast charging with non-uniform microstructure in the Li-ion cell.