title: Suppression of phase separation in LiFePO₄ nanoparticles during battery discharge.
abstract: Using a novel electrochemical phase-field model, we question the common belief that Li(X)FePO(4) nanoparticles always separate into Li-rich and Li-poor phases during battery discharge. For small currents, spinodal decomposition or nucleation leads to moving phase boundaries. Above a critical current density (in the Tafel regime), the spinodal disappears, and particles fill homogeneously, which may explain the superior rate capability and long cycle life of nano-LiFePO(4) cathodes.
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States.
authors: Peng
authors: P
authors: Bai
authors: Daniel A
authors: DA
authors: Cogswell
authors: Martin Z
authors: MZ
authors: Bazant
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004566:Electrodes; D004579:Electron Transport; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D008094:Lithium / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D044367:Phase Transition; D010710:Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D010710:Phosphates; D008094:Lithium