Theory 15/Hysteresis & Memory/Batteries
Voltage Hysteresis Tracks the Path
The claim
Voltage hysteresis in conversion-type electrodes is set by the size of the phase boundary formed on the last cycle, so capacity depends on cycling history rather than on state of charge.
01Mechanism
The reaction path depends on the morphology left by the previous cycle; a larger boundary lowers the overpotential on the next.
02Prediction
Overpotential should shrink with prior cycling at constant state.
03Refutation
Overpotential tracking state of charge alone would remove the memory.