Researchers from Imperial College London, including Mohammed Asheruddin Nazeeruddin, Ruihe Li, Simon E. J. OKane, Monica Marinescu, and Gregory J. Offer, have introduced a new approach to designing lithium-ion batteries that prioritizes long-term durability. Their work, published in the journal Nature Communications, presents a degradation-aware design framework that could significantly extend the life of batteries used in various energy storage applications.
The team’s research focuses on the finite internal resources, or “reservoirs,” within lithium-ion batteries, such as lithium, porosity, and electrolyte, which are gradually depleted over time due to degradation processes. To better understand and predict these processes, the researchers extended an existing physics-based model, the Doyle-Fuller-Newman model, to include validated mechanisms like solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) growth, lithium plating, cracking, and solvent dry-out.
Through simulations, the researchers found that small design changes can have a substantial impact on battery life. For instance, increasing the electrolyte volume by just 1% or the porosity by 5% can extend the service life of a battery by over 30% without significantly affecting its energy density. However, they also discovered that adding excess lithium can accelerate failure if not accompanied by sufficient structural or ionic buffers.
One of the key insights from this study is the importance of the interactions between these reservoirs. The researchers demonstrated that tuning multiple reservoirs simultaneously can yield either synergistic benefits or compound failures, depending on the operating conditions. They also quantified how factors like the C-rate (a measure of charge or discharge rate) and operating temperature influence degradation pathways, highlighting the need for co-optimized design and usage profiles.
By reframing battery degradation as a problem of managing finite internal reservoirs, this research offers a predictive and mechanistic foundation for designing lithium-ion batteries that balance energy, durability, and application-specific needs. This approach could be particularly valuable for the energy sector, where long-lasting, reliable batteries are crucial for grid storage, electric vehicles, and other applications. The practical applications of this research could lead to more efficient and cost-effective energy storage solutions, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable energy future.
Source: Nature Communications
This article is based on research available at arXiv.