Mechano-electrochemical Coupling Deformation in Layered Electrode Materials: A Review of Current Research and Future Directions

Layered materials, such as graphite and molybdenum disulfide, are promising for electrode materials and microelectronic devices due to their excellent ion-intercalating properties. However, the intercalation and de-intercalation of ions, causing structural deformation and material property variations, would affect battery performance and alter external field responses. The complex problem coupling multiphysics is significant for study and poses a crucial research challenge. This paper reviews the coupling between mechanics, electrochemistry, and electrics during the reaction process, including in situ experimental characterization, theoretical modeling, and design considerations at various scales. Current research has focused on experimental observations beyond the nanoscale and continuum phenomenological models. Further advancements in characterizing layered structural evolution, electron cloud interactions at the atomic level, and developing physics-based multi-field models are essential.