Analytical and experimental investigation of the mode-II energy release rate of electrodes using a plasticity-assisted zero-degree peeling configuration.

• An analytical model was established to characterize the mode-II energy release rate. • A novel plasticity-assisted zero-degree peeling test was proposed to obtain a stable crack propagation stage. • The effect of dimensionless stress, indices of hardening, and load transfer length on energy release rate were analyzed. • An excellent agreement between the theoretical calculation and numerical result was demonstrated. Lithium-ion batteries integrate heterogeneous materials such as active layers and current collectors, resulting in interfaces prone to delamination during the charge/discharge process. The mode-II energy release rate is a key index to evaluate the interfacial adhesion properties and structural integrity of electrodes. In this study, an analytical model considering the energy balance principle and a nonlinear constitutive model was established to characterize the mode-II energy release rate. A novel plasticity-assisted zero-degree peeling test (PAZDPT) is proposed to obtain a stable crack propagation stage where the peeling force is determined to calculate the mode-II energy release rate. Several parameter studies were conducted to verify the approximation of the stress distributions and simplification of the analytical model. The accuracy of the analytical model was validated against finite-element calculations. The results demonstrated an excellent agreement between the theoretical calculation and numerical results. Moreover, PAZDPT is conducive to steady crack propagation because it restricts the energy accumulation around the crack tip. The analytical model and newly proposed PAZDPT can also be extended to determine the mode-II energy release rate of other types of interfaces in bilayer thin-film materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]