Understanding and Modifying Transport Processes in Thick All Active Material (AAM) Lithium-Ion Battery Electrodes

Lithium ion batteries have powered the human society for decades. Researchers worldwide have been pursuing higher energy density. One way to increase energy density is to increase the electrode thickness and loading, but there are mechanical limitations such as electrode cracking or delamination for conventional composite electrode to exceed 100 µm. An emerging electrode architecture, all active material (AAM) electrode, can achieve millimeter thickness without those limitations. Such architecture does not contain conventional binder and conductive additives, which also mitigates the Li-ion transport during charging, but may hinder electron transport where electron has to traverse via the electroactive material. Herein, this dissertation strived for understanding the ion transport, electron transport, and cycle stability of the AAM architecture via experimental and simulation methods. Various electroactive materials and electrolyte systems were investigated in AAM architecture.