In the present work, the two-dimensional analytical solution for Li diffusion in grains and grain boundaries of a polycrystalline film electrode is established with consideration of Li-segregation at the grain boundary. The stress field induced by the inhomogeneity of Li concentration, called chemical stress here for brevity, is analyzed via the finite element simulation. The effects of the grain boundary including its size, its diffusion coefficient as well as the segregation phenomenon on the solute concentration and the chemical stress are examined. It shows that grain boundaries can assist fast diffusion and significantly affect the stress profile in the whole film. It proves that tailoring the grain boundary size or other grain boundary-related parameters may provide an alternative strategy for improving the overall diffusivity and mechanical stability of battery electrodes.
