# Pores for thought: The use of generative adversarial networks for the stochastic reconstruction of 3D multi-phase electrode microstructures with periodic boundaries

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2003.11632 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2003.11632/

## Key facts

- Cited by 15 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 17 Feb 2020.

## Built on by (most cited first, 15 of 15)

- [Generating 3D structures from a 2D slice with GAN-based dimensionality expansion](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2102.07708/) (2021)
- [FakeNews: GAN-based generation of realistic 3D volumetric data -- A systematic review and taxonomy](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2207.01390/) (2022)
- [Three-dimensional microstructure generation using generative adversarial neural networks in the context of continuum micromechanics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2206.01693/) (2022)
- [Deep-Learned Generators of Porosity Distributions Produced During Metal Additive Manufacturing](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2205.05794/) (2022)
- [Multi-plane denoising diffusion-based dimensionality expansion for 2D-to-3D reconstruction of microstructures with harmonized sampling](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2308.14035/) (2023)
- [Fusion of complementary 2D and 3D mesostructural datasets using generative adversarial networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2110.11281/) (2021)
- [Discrete Spatial Diffusion: Intensity-Preserving Diffusion Modeling](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.01917/) (2025)
- [Iterative Facial Image Inpainting Based on an Encoder-Generator Architecture](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2101.07036/) (2021)
- [Digital Fingerprinting of Microstructures](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.13718/) (2022)
- [Deep Learning based Optical Image Super-Resolution via Generative Diffusion Models for Layerwise in-situ LPBF Monitoring](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2409.13171/) (2024)
- [Two approaches to inpainting microstructure with deep convolutional generative adversarial networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2210.06997/) (2022)
- [Generative adversarial framework to calibrate excursion set models for the 3D morphology of all-solid-state battery cathodes](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.17171/) (2025)
- [Deep Kernel Bayesian Optimisation for Closed-Loop Electrode Microstructure Design with User-Defined Properties based on GANs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.00833/) (2025)
- [MicroLad: 2D-to-3D Microstructure Reconstruction and Generation via Latent Diffusion and Score Distillation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.20138/) (2025)
- [Multiphase-Diff: Diffusion-Based Generative Modeling for High-Contrast Multiphase Physical Systems with Sharp Interfaces](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2608.13669/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

The generation of multiphase porous electrode microstructures is a critical step in the optimisation of electrochemical energy storage devices. This work implements a deep convolutional generative adversarial network (DC-GAN) for generating realistic n-phase microstructural data. The same network architecture is successfully applied to two very different three-phase microstructures: A lithium-ion battery cathode and a solid oxide fuel cell anode. A comparison between the real and synthetic data is performed in terms of the morphological properties (volume fraction, specific surface area, triple-phase boundary) and transport properties (relative diffusivity), as well as the two-point correlation function. The results show excellent agreement between for datasets and they are also visually indistinguishable. By modifying the input to the generator, we show that it is possible to generate microstructure with periodic boundaries in all three directions. This has the potential to significantly reduce the simulated volume required to be considered representative and therefore massively reduce the computational cost of the electrochemical simulations necessary to predict the performance of a particular microstructure during optimisation.
