Electro-chemo-mechanical charge carrier equilibrium at interfaces

Electrochemical interfaces involving solids enable charge transfer, electrical transport, and mass storage in energy devices. One central concept that determines the interfacial charge carrier concentration is the space-charge field. The classical theory accounts for electrochemical equilibrium in the absence of mechanical effects; such effects have recently been found critical in many solids, such as materials for lithium-ion and solid-state batteries, perovskite solar cells, and fuel cells. Towards elucidating the interplay between charge carriers and mechanics, we establish a generalized electro-chemo-mechanical space-charge model and categorize the carriers into physically-meaningful four types, based on the signs of the charge number (i.e., polarity) and the partial molar volume (i.e., expansion coefficient). Beyond the electrostatic effects discussed in the literature, our work reveals the importance of elastic effects, as demonstrated by simulations of a composite beam bending experiment. The analysis highlights opportunities to systematically tune the interfacial electrical conductivity and the reaction kinetics of solids through mechanics. Our treatment provides a rational basis for understanding stress-driven phenomena at interfaces in a wide range of solids.