Too many electrons at the lithiation front in silicon are a problem

(Phys.org) —Ubiquitous but frustrating, lithium-ion batteries fade because the materials lose their structure in response to charging and discharging. This structural change is closely related to the formation of electron-rich regions within the electrode, according to scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Northwestern University, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The team used experiments and molecular simulations to show that the electron-rich region causes silicon bonds to break. The bond breakage transforms crystalline silicon into an amorphous alloy of lithium and silicon.

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