Lattice Boltzmann Simulation for Electrolyte Transport in Porous Electrode of Lithium Ion Batteries

Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) for multi-phase fluid mixture is applied to the problem of electrolyte transport phenomena in the two-dimensional porous electrode structure of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The LB model successfully simulates the complicated microscopic behavior of a liquid electrolyte in a porous electrode providing the mechanism of liquid electrolyte transport in LIBs. It is shown that LBM approach is an effective tool for investigating electrolyte transport phenomena in a porous electrode with wettability taken into consideration. The results suggest that the wettability in a porous electrode is affected strongly by two-phase (electrolyte and air) transport. Therefore removal of existing air can be a bottleneck for enhancing wettability. Improved wettability to assist in the efficient distribution of a liquid electrolyte can be achieved by controlling the material properties, such as porosity, particle size and contact angle.