Inelastic hosts as electrodes for high-capacity lithium-ion batteries

Silicon can host a large amount of lithium, making it a promising electrode for high-capacity lithium-ion batteries. Upon absorbing lithium, silicon swells several times its volume; the deformation often induces large stresses and pulverizes silicon. Recent experiments, however, indicate that under certain conditions lithiation causes inelastic deformation. This paper models such an inelastic host of lithium by considering diffusion, elastic-plastic deformation, and fracture. The model shows that fracture is averted for a small and soft host - an inelastic host of a small feature size and low yield strength.