Insights into cathode densification of calendering process by the combination of in-situ CT and DEM

TY - JOUR

T1 - Insights into cathode densification of calendering process by the combination of in-situ CT and DEM

AU - Song, Yanjie

AU - Tan, Li

AU - Gao, Kai

AU - He, Chunwang

AU - Wu, Yikun

AU - Li, Na

AU - Yang, Le

AU - Mao, Yiqi

AU - Song, Wei Li

AU - Chen, Hao Sen

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 Elsevier B.V.

PY - 2025/3/15

Y1 - 2025/3/15

N2 - The calendering process, which is a common compaction technique, serves as the final step in the manufacturing of lithium-ion battery electrodes. Calendering plays an irreplaceable role in enhancing the volumetric energy density and electrochemical performance due to the densification of pore structure. To investigate the densification of active particles, this study designs and develops a micro-CT loading device, which can capture the in-situ evolution during the electrode compression. By combining the in-situ CT with discrete element method (DEM) scheme, we analyze the internal load transfer paths, particle contacts, and pore structure evolution during the densification. The results indicate that the particle compaction process can be divided into two stages, exhibiting a state transition from a non-uniform compaction stage to a uniform compaction stage, and the large particles show a higher breakage risk after over-compaction. This study successfully in-situ tracks the densification during electrode compression and it would promote a deeper understanding of the evolution of electrode microstructure and particle fracture, and optimize the structures and performance of electrodes.

AB - The calendering process, which is a common compaction technique, serves as the final step in the manufacturing of lithium-ion battery electrodes. Calendering plays an irreplaceable role in enhancing the volumetric energy density and electrochemical performance due to the densification of pore structure. To investigate the densification of active particles, this study designs and develops a micro-CT loading device, which can capture the in-situ evolution during the electrode compression. By combining the in-situ CT with discrete element method (DEM) scheme, we analyze the internal load transfer paths, particle contacts, and pore structure evolution during the densification. The results indicate that the particle compaction process can be divided into two stages, exhibiting a state transition from a non-uniform compaction stage to a uniform compaction stage, and the large particles show a higher breakage risk after over-compaction. This study successfully in-situ tracks the densification during electrode compression and it would promote a deeper understanding of the evolution of electrode microstructure and particle fracture, and optimize the structures and performance of electrodes.

KW - Calendering

KW - Densification

KW - Discrete element method (DEM)

KW - In-situ CT

KW - Lithium-ion battery

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85215383526

U2 - 10.1016/j.powtec.2025.120667

DO - 10.1016/j.powtec.2025.120667

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85215383526

SN - 0032-5910

VL - 453

JO - Powder Technology

JF - Powder Technology

M1 - 120667

ER -