  Li-ion batteries are ineluctably subjected to external mechanical loading or
stress gradient. Such stress can be induced in battery electrode during
fabrication and under normal operation. In this paper, we develop a model for
stresses generated during lithiation in the thin plate electrode considering
the effects of external mechanical loading. It is found that diffusion-induced
stresses are asymmetrically distributed through the thickness of plate due to
the coupling effects of asymmetrically distributed external mechanical stress.
At the very early stage during Li-ions insertion, the effects of the external
mechanical loading is quite limited and unobvious. With the diffusion time
increasing, the external mechanical loading exerts a significant influence on
the evolution of stresses generated in the electrode. External compressed
electrode is inclined to increase the value of stresses generated during
lithiation, while external tensed electrode tends to decrease the value of
stresses, and as the diffusion time increases, the effects of the external
mechanical loading on the stresses generated during lithiation become more
obvious.
