Intentionally applied interelectrode thermal gradients (ITGs) accelerate capacity loss in 35°C cells, and the directionality of the thermal gradient dictates the responsible degradation mode. By simulating cell self-heating at various temperatures and C-rates, we identify 35°C and C/5 as a condition that does not typically exhibit lithium (Li) plating under isothermal conditions but is sensitive to thermal gradients. When subjected to an ITG, we observe 77% capacity fade over 20 cycles when the negative electrode (NE) is warmer than the positive electrode (PE) (ΔT_int = +2°C) and 100% capacity fade when the PE is warmer than the NE (ΔT_int = −2°C). Incremental capacity analysis diagnoses PE degradation for ΔT_int = +2°C and NE degradation for ΔT_int = −2°C. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and postmortem optical investigation corroborate these findings. We identify ITGs as a means to achieve accelerated aging of Li-ion cells with the capability to dictate a limiting electrode and/or decouple degradation of each electrode.

有意施加的电极间热梯度（ITG）加速了35°C电池的容量损失，并且热梯度的方向性决定了负责任的降解模式。通过模拟在各种温度和C速率下的电池自热，我们确定35°C和C / 5是在等温条件下通常不显示锂（Li）镀层但对热梯度敏感的条件。当经受ITG，我们观察到77％的容量衰减超过20个循环时的负电极（NE）是比正极温暖（PE）（ΔT _INT  = + 2℃）和100％的容量衰减，当PE是温暖比NE（ΔT _INT  = -2℃）。为ΔT递增的容量分析诊断PE降解_INT  = + 2°C和NE为ΔT降解_INT ＝ -2℃。电化学阻抗谱和验尸光学研究证实了这些发现。我们确定ITGs是实现锂离子电池加速老化的一种手段，它具有指示限制电极和/或解耦每个电极退化的能力。