Dresden 2026 – scientific programme
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MM: Fachverband Metall- und Materialphysik
MM 35: Additive Manufacturing / Transport in Materials III
MM 35.5: Talk
Thursday, March 12, 2026, 16:45–17:00, SCH/A216
Kinetic analysis of lithium transport in silicon anode using operando optical microscopy — •Shihao Wei1, Monica Mead1, Yug Joshi2, and Guido Schmitz1 — 1Heisenbergstraße 3, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany — 2Max-Planck-Straße 1, 40237, Düsseldorf, Germany
Understanding lithium diffusion and phase transformation in silicon(Si) anodes is essential for the advancement of high-capacity lithium(Li)-ion batteries. In this work, Li transport behavior and phase evolution are investigated using an in-situ optical method, which enables direct visualization of phase movement and measure Li migration across phase boundaries, advantages not offered by conventional techniques, such as EIS, SIMS, and NMR. First, it is observed that the lithiation process on a semi-infinite plane is predominantly governed by diffusion-controlled parabolic growth, with minimal evidence of interface-controlled linear growth. The temperature dependence of transport is explored, quantified with an Arrhenius-like model, revealing the activation energy of diffusion and interfacial reaction. In contrast, delithiation exhibits markedly sluggish kinetics and behaves fundamentally differently. To investigate this behavior, smaller circular geometries with limited diffusion depth creating a 2D transport scenario are examined. In these confined structures, lithiation is demonstrated by a Deal-Grove-type model. Remarkably, during delithiation, instead of a distinct moving interface, the lithiated phase gradually fades as lithium ions leave. Such a difference implies that lithiation and delithiation follow distinct reaction pathways.
Keywords: Chemical diffusion; Si anode; Li-ion battery