Mechanistic Insight into Wettability Enhancement of Lithium-Ion Batteries Using a Ceramic-Coated Layer

The crucial issue of wettability in high-energy-density
lithium-ion
batteries (LIBs) has not been comprehensively addressed to date. To
overcome the challenge, state-of-the-art LIBs employing a ceramic-coated
separator improves the safety- and wettability-related aspects of
LIBs. Here, we present a mechanistic study of the effects of a ceramic-coated
layer (CCL) on electrode wettability and report the optimal position
of the CCL in LIBs. The electrolyte wetting was investigated using
the multiphase lattice Boltzmann method and electrochemical impedance
spectroscopy for capturing the electrolyte-transport dynamics in porous
electrodes and impedance spectra in pouch-type LIBs, respectively.
Results indicate that the CCL caused the velocity vector to transport
the electrolyte further, resulting in an increase in the wetting rate.
Moreover, the location of the CCL considerably affected the wettability
of the LIBs. This study provides mechanical insight into the design
and fabrication of high-performance LIBs by incorporating CCLs.