Energy Storage Science and Technology ›› 2024, Vol. 13 ›› Issue (10): 3467-3479.doi: 10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2024.0284

• Energy Storage Materials and Devices • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Failure of graphite negative electrode in lithium-ion batteries and advanced characterization methods

Jinqiao DU1(), Jie TIAN1, Yan LI1, Pu CAI2, Wencong FENG2, Wen LUO2()   

  1. 1.Shenzhen Power Supply Bureau Co. Ltd. , Shenzhen 518001, Guangdong, China
    2.State Key Laboratory of New Materials Composite Technology, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China
  • Received:2024-03-31 Revised:2024-05-14 Online:2024-10-28 Published:2024-10-30
  • Contact: Wen LUO E-mail:jinqiaodu@qq.com;luowen_1991@whut.edu.cn

Abstract:

With the growing focus on developing portable devices and electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have gained widespread commercial use owing to their high energy density, long cycle life, and small self-discharge. However, LIBs are prone to various failure modes during operation, such as lithium plating, short circuit, thermal failure, and gas generation. These issues can lead to capacity degradation, battery expansion, thermal runaway, and other safety concerns. Therefore, understanding and addressing these failure mechanisms are crucial for advancing the safety and longevity of LIBs. This study explores the failure mechanism of graphite negative electrodes, which are widely used in LIBs, under various conditions such as lithium plating, high and low temperature, overcharging, and other conditions. It also highlights advanced characterization techniques used to analyze these failure mechanisms. By examining the graphite structure, phase transition during lithium insertion, graphite surface morphology, heat released by the negative electrode, and gas generated by the reaction, the four primary causes of these failures are discussed, which mainly affect the failure mechanisms, such as graphite layer spacing, phase transition during lithium insertion of graphite, loss of active lithium, additional interface film generation, and other side reactions. Finally, the characterization methods for various failure causes are summarized. The standardization and normalization of battery failure analyses are further discussed, which play a key role in advancing future research and development efforts aimed at improving the safety and performance of LIBs.

Key words: lithium-ion batteries, graphite negative electrode failure, lithium precipitation, high and low temperature, overcharging

CLC Number: