Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), due to their high energy density and design flexibility, are the most prevailing and promising electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices, and are being widely used in portable electronics and electric vehicles. However, with their wide range applications, an urgent requirement is raised for the further improvement of their energy density. This paper presents an overview of recent advances in understanding the mechanical behavior of high capacity anode materials, i.e., silicon and germanium, in their charging/discharging cycling. Particular emphasis is placed on the state-of-the-art experimental and numerical studies of the deformation and failure of anode materials caused by the electrochemo-mechanical coupling. In addition, possible extension of current techniques to the research of other energy systems is discussed.

lithium-ion batteries  /  anode material  /  electrochemistry-mechanics coupling