Numerical Voltammetry of Phase Separating Materials Using Phase Field Modeling

Higher capacity materials, such as Si and Sn are known to have phase separating behavior during the (de)lithiation. While initial models for lithiation in graphite electrode were based on single phase diffusion, with the introduction of Si and Sn, disposition of the models has shifted to the two-phase diffusion. It is important to understand the interaction of various phenomenon in materials which show phase change during (dis)charging cycles. In this work, we present a phase field model to simulate two-phase lithiation. This model is used to study the electrochemical response of the system by conducting numerical voltammetry. The main goal of this effort is to highlight the difference in electrochemical response occurring during single-phase diffusion and two-phase diffusion and explain the ensuing physics. Furthermore, effect of elasticity which governs the phase-change process and also alters corresponding voltammograms is also studied in detail. The voltammograms show clear shift in current peaks’ size and position for the changing diffusion behavior. Also as elasticity affects the two-phase diffusion, change in nucleation timing and diffusion rate are visible in voltammograms. Additionally, it is also observed how elasticity can cease the phase separation behavior and voltammogram for two-phase diffusion can become identical to single-phase diffusion.