Phase Separating Electrode Materials – Chemical Inductors?

Abstract

We discover presence of chemical inductive effects in phase separating ion intercalation energy storage materials, specifically in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and also lithium titanate oxide (LTO). These materials features fast (de)intercalation and slow diffusion relaxation phenomena which are prerequisites for observing such inductive effects. Presented finding is supported by the mechanistic model and analytical reasoning indicating that all equilibrium states that lay inside the miscibility gap of the phase separating material exhibit strong inductive response in the low frequency part of spectrum. We also explain why such inductive effects are not observed outside the miscibility gap. This letter presents the first mechanistic reasoning of previously reported electrode level experimental observation of inductance during impedance measurements at low currents.