Influence of Physical Parameters on Lithium Dendrite Growth Based on Phase Field Theory

Lithium batteries have emerged as the mainstream technology in the current energy storage field due to their advantages, such as high energy density and long cycle life. However, from a multi-physics coupling perspective, research remains relatively scarce regarding the analysis of dendrite nucleation and growth, as well as their influence on lithium dendrite growth. Based on the phase field theory, this study develops a mechanical-thermal-electrochemical coupling model to systematically investigate the evolution mechanisms and suppression strategies of lithium dendrites induced by relevant physical quantities through the coupled effects of mechanical, thermal, and electrochemical fields. The dynamic behavior of the solid-solid interface is characterized by introducing order parameters. The governing nonlinear partial differential equations are formulated by combining the Cahn-Hilliard and Ginzburg-Landau equations. The present numerical results and the previous results are compared to validate the present model in properly predicting lithium dendrite growth. Numerical simulations are performed to analyze the influence of various physical parameters, such as electric potential, anisotropic intensity and anisotropic modulus, on the morphological evolution of lithium dendrites. These findings provide critical insights for advancing strategies to suppress lithium dendrite growth and enhance battery performance in solid-state lithium batteries under multi-field coupling conditions.