Autocatalytic solid-state electrochemical reactions: a non-linear kinetic theory of batteries

systems, are presented. This model considers only interactions between the product and the reactant as phase transition takes place during galvanostatic, potentiostatic, or voltammetric charge-discharge. The kinetic theory presented here explains the recently observed charge-discharge asymmetry in phase-separating battery reactions (a possible source of hysteresis), the memory effect of the first cycle on subsequent cycles, and finally it shows that phase separation may be prevented at high charge-discharge rates.