A Review of the Application of Digital Image Correlation to Micromechanical Studies of Polymer Electrolytes

High-performing lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) necessitate a stable solid electrolyte. When batteries are subjected to external loads, the electrolytes in LIBs are susceptible to irregular deformation distributions, which may result in an asymmetrical porosity distribution. Therefore, these electrolytes must be mechanically robust to withstand pressures and loads, such as significant volumetric changes in anode materials, as well as to prevent dendrite formation, which reduces their efficiency and extends LIB's lifespan. Numerous research methods and tools have been used to examine the mechanical characteristics of LIB components, including tensile, compression, flexural, hardness, and viscoelasticity experiments conducted using the universal testing machine and nanoindentation machine. However, this study discusses the digital image correlation (DIC) technique to examine the mechanical properties of solid electrolytes on a microscopic scale and how this technique has been and can be successfully used to improve our understanding of the strain distribution and effects on LIBs when the solid electrolyte is loaded.