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Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Identification and Quantification of Decomposition Mechanisms in Lithium-Ion Batteries; Input to Heat Flow Simulation for Modeling Thermal Runaway
Published on: March 7, 2022
Differentiating contributions to "ion transfer" barrier from interphasial resistance and Li+ desolvation at
Kang Xu1, Arthur von Cresce, Unchul Lee
1Electrochemistry Branch, Power and Energy Division, U.S. Army Research Laboratory, 2800 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi, Maryland 20783, USA. cxu@arl.army.mil
Abstract:
Efforts were made to differentiate the contributions to the so-called "ion transfer" barrier at the electrolyte/graphite junction from two distinct processes: (1) desolvation of Li(+) before it enters graphene interlayer and (2) the subsequent migration of bare Li(+) through the ad hoc interphase. By leveraging a scenario where no substantial interphase was formed on Li(+) intercalation hosts, we were able to quantify the distribution of "ion transfer" activation energy between these two interfacial processes and hence identify the desolvation process of Li(+) as the major energy-consuming step. The result confirmed the earlier belief that the rate-determining step in the charging of a graphitic anode in Li(+) intercalation chemistry relates to the stripping of solvation sheath of Li(+), which is closely interwoven with the interphasial resistance to Li(+) migration.
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