Unveiling the effects of laser structuring on thick electrodes using an electrochemical model

초록

Efforts are being made to develop thick electrodes to achieve high energy density in lithium-ion batteries; however, thick electrodes exhibit poor electrochemical performance due to severe polarization, a common limitation. Laser structuring, a non-mechanical technique, mitigates these limitations by enhancing ion transport. This study investigates the effect of laser structuring on the electrochemical performance of thick electrodes. To this end, electrodes with varying structuring intervals are fabricated alongside conventional electrodes, and their electrochemical performance is evaluated using an electrochemical model. The results show that laser structuring has minimal impact on electrodes approximately 50 mu m thick but significantly enhances ion transport in electrodes thicker than 100 mu m. Increased electrode thickness restricts ion diffusion and reduces performance under high-power conditions, which is mitigated by laser structuring through improved ion transport pathways. Furthermore, it effectively reduces internal resistance and polarization, thereby improving charging efficiency and suppressing lithium plating by maintaining a stable overpotential during high-rate operation. The benefits are further amplified when combined with electrolytes possessing higher transport properties, confirming that transport limitations are alleviated even in thick electrodes. These findings demonstrate that integrating laser structuring with advanced electrolyte design offers a promising pathway toward thick-electrode-based, highperformance lithium-ion batteries.

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