Dendrite formation in rechargeable lithium-metal batteries: Phase-field modeling using open-source finite element library

Abstract

We describe a phase-field model for the electrodeposition process that forms dendrites within metal-anode batteries. We derive the free energy functional model, arriving at a system of partial differential equations that describe the evolution of a phase field, the lithium-ion concentration, and an electric potential. We formulate, discretize, and solve the set of partial differential equations describing the coupled electrochemical interactions during a battery charge cycle using an open-source finite element library. The open-source library allows us to use parallel solvers and time-marching adaptivity. We describe two- and three-dimensional simulations; these simulations agree with experimentally-observed dendrite growth rates and morphologies reported in the literature.

@article{arguello2022jesa,
  title         = {Dendrite formation in rechargeable lithium-metal batteries: Phase-field modeling
                  using open-source finite element library},
  author        = {Arguello, Marcos E and Labanda, Nicol\'{a}s A and Calo, Victor M and Gumulya,
                  Monica and Utikar, Ranjeet and Derksen, Jos},
  year          = 2022,
  journal       = {Journal of Energy Storage},
  publisher     = {Elsevier},
  volume        = 53,
  pages         = 104892,
  doi           = {10.1016/j.est.2022.104892}
}