Determining the fundamental failure modes in Ni-rich lithium ion battery cathodes
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Challenges associated with in-service mechanical degradation of Li-ion battery cathodes has prompted a transition from polycrystalline to single crystal cathode materials. Whilst for single crystal materials, dislocation-assisted crack formation is assumed to be the dominating failure mechanism throughout battery life, there is little direct information about their mechanical behaviour, and mechanistic understanding remains elusive. Here, we demonstrated, using in situ micromechanical testing, direct measurement of local mechanical properties within LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 single crystalline domains. We elucidated the dislocation slip systems, their critical stresses, and how slip facilitate cracking. We then compared single crystal and polycrystal deformation behaviour. Our findings answer two fundamental questions critical to understanding cathode degradation: What dislocation slip systems operate in Ni-rich cathode materials? And how does slip cause fracture? This knowledge unlocks our ability to develop tools for lifetime prediction and failure risk assessment, as well as in designing novel cathode materials with increased toughness in-service.
Date Issued
2023-12-01
Date Acceptance
2023-08-13
Citation
Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2023, 43 (16), pp.7553-7560
ISSN
0955-2219
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Start Page
7553
End Page
7560
Journal / Book Title
Journal of the European Ceramic Society
Volume
43
Issue
16
Copyright Statement
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
License URL
Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2023.08.021
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2023-08-15