TY  - EJOU
AU  - Lyu, Yuhang 
AU  - Dong, Shaohai 
AU  - Gao, Li Ting 
AU  - Guo, Zhan-Sheng 

TI  - Three-Dimensional Discrete Element Simulation of Electrode Structural Evolutions in Lithium-Ion Batteries During Drying and Calendering
T2  - The International Conference on Computational \& Experimental Engineering and Sciences

PY  - 2024
VL  - 30
IS  - 3
SN  - 1933-2815

AB  - Drying and calendering processes are crucial in electrode manufacturing, as they significantly affect the mechanical and electrochemical performances of lithium-ion batteries. In this study, we established a three-dimensional (3D) representative volume element (RVE) of electrodes composed of active material particles, carbon binder domain particles, solvent, and different particle contact types. We continuously simulated the 3D macroscopic and microscopic structural evolutions of the RVE during drying and calendering using the discrete element method (DEM). Based on the evolution of the particle coordination numbers and contact networks during drying, we propose a three-stage-drying scheme, consistent with the relevant experimental results. Analyses of the evolution of porosity, particle coordination number, and contact network of the RVE show that the mechanical integrity and electronic conductivity of the electrodes can be significantly improved by calendering. The stress acting on the electrode particles is in a 3D compression state during calendering, and the maximum stress appears along the thickness dimension of the electrodes. Thus, this study demonstrated the significant potential of DEM in the study of electrode heterogeneity during drying and calendering processes.
KW  - Discrete element method; electrode slurry; drying; calendering; structural evolution; representative volume element

DO  - 10.32604/icces.2024.012815