Molecular Dynamics, Diffusion Coefficients and Activation Energy of the Electrolyte (Anode) in Lithium (Li and Li⁺), Sodium (Na and Na⁺) and Potassium (K and K⁺)

This work is a simulation modelling with the LAMMPS calculation code of an electrode based on alkali metals (lithium, sodium and potassium) using the MEAM potential. For different multiplicities, two models were studied; with and without gap. In this work, we present the structural, physical and chemical properties of the lithium, sodium and potassium electrodes. For the structural properties, the cohesive energy and the mesh parameters were calculated, revealing that, whatever the chemical element selected, the compact hexagonal hcp structure is the most stable, followed by the face-centred cubic CFC structure, and finally the BCC structure. The most stable structure is lithium, with a cohesion energy of -6570 eV, and the lowest bcc-hcp transition energy of -0.553 eV/atom, followed by sodium. For physical properties, kinetic and potential energies were calculated for each of the sectioned chemical elements, with lithium achieving the highest value. Finally, for the chemical properties, we studied the diffusion coefficient and the activation energy. Only potassium followed an opposite order to the other two, with the quantities with lacunae being greater than those without lacunae, whatever the multiplicity. The order of magnitude of the diffusion coefficients is given by the relationship D_Li > D_Na > D_k for the multiplicity 6*6*6, while for the activation energy the order is reversed.