Design of thick electrodes for high-performance lithium-ion batteries: A comprehensive perspective under coupled kinetics and thermodynamics

Abstract

Further enhancement of the energy density of lithium-ion batteries is a goal pursued in state-of-the-art batteries, and the use of thick electrodes is an effective and direct mean. However, thick electrodes often suffer from severe electrochemical performance degradation, which severely hinder their practical application. We comprehensively review the latest progress in the field of thick electrodes to overcome the bottleneck of thick electrode development. First, we systematically analyzed the factors that cause the capacity failure of thick electrodes. The reaction heterogeneity caused by slow kinetics accelerates the deterioration of mechanical stability and interface. Next, we introduce the mainstream strategies to enhance the performance of thick electrodes, including multi-scale structural designs from particle to electrode level aimed at improving the kinetic performance. However, these studies mainly focus on improving kinetic performance. By analyzing the real electrode reaction processes, we emphasize the critical role of thermodynamics in electrode reaction, suggesting that optimizing the thermodynamic properties can also enhance the performance of thick electrodes. Finally, we propose a development path for thick electrodes under the coupled design of kinetics and thermodynamics. This work offers a more comprehensive perspective to guide electrode design efforts.