Energy Storage Science and Technology ›› 2024, Vol. 13 ›› Issue (6): 1755-1766.doi: 10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2024.0056

• Energy Storage Materials and Devices • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Study on the tensile properties of PET-Cu composite current collectors for lithium-ion batteries

Feng XIAO1(), Fulai CHENG2,3, Xuemei LUO2, Guangping ZHANG2, Bin ZHANG1()   

  1. 1.Key Laboratory for Anisotropy and Texture of Materials, Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, Liaoning, China
    2.Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, Liaoning, China
    3.School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Shenyang 110016, Liaoning, China
  • Received:2024-01-17 Revised:2024-02-07 Online:2024-06-28 Published:2024-06-26
  • Contact: Bin ZHANG E-mail:1519603183@qq.com;zhangb@atm.neu.edu.cn

Abstract:

With the advancement of lithium-ion battery technology, composite current collectors have garnered significant interest due to their role in enhancing battery energy density and safety. The mechanical performance of composite current collectors is crucial for ensuring their reliable operation. This study systematically investigates the mechanical properties of commercial polyethylene terephthalate-copper (PET-Cu) composite current collectors. The surface morphology, microstructure, and tensile fracture behavior of the PET-Cu composite were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, laser confocal microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Stress distribution in dog-bone-shaped and long-strip-shaped samples during tensile testing was analyzed and compared through finite element simulation. The effects of sampling direction, strain rate, and specimen geometry on the tensile properties were assessed using tensile tests supported by digital image correlation technology. The dog-bone-shaped samples were found to be more effective in evaluating mechanical properties, as their transition arcs alleviate stress concentration. The mechanical properties along the machined direction proved superior to those along the transverse directions, attributed to the orientation structures of the matrix. Higher loading strain rates enhanced the overall mechanical properties of the current collector. While the geometric size of the samples had minimal impact on strength, it significantly affected elongation at fracture. The primary deformation mechanism during tensile testing was identified as dislocation slip, with surface defects such as holes acting as favorable sites for crack initiation. Considering these factors is essential when testing the tensile properties of PET-Cu composite current collectors. This research provides a theoretical foundation and reliability demonstration for the practical application of composite collectors and offers a reference for developing relevant testing standards. This study's findings are poised to advance the development of lithium-ion batteries with improved energy density and safety.

Key words: composite current collector, tensile properties, finite element simulation, digital image correlation technique, strain rate sensitivity, geometric size effect

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