12. Mechanical modelling and characterization of batteries
Project description
Capacity fade in lithium-ion batteries remains an area of active research, with mechanical failure of the electrode material thought to be an important contributor. While the formation of the solid electrolyte interphase and the subsequent loss of cyclable lithium have been well studied, there is still ambiguity surrounding the role of mechanical degradation.
This project aims to gain a better understanding about the impact of mechanical instabilities and microstructural heterogeneities in electrode materials on battery performance. To achieve this, a numerical 3D framework will be developed that takes into account the coupling between multi-physics battery phenomenon and can simulate stress and fracture in battery materials under varying operating conditions. A detailed microstructure-resolved 3D model would help in examining the correlation and interplay between the microstructure and key battery properties.
Theoretical and computational analyses will provide a better understanding of the intimate behaviour of actual batteries under operational conditions and will thus help to tailor new materials and shape electrode architectures in a complementary way to experimental approaches.
The project is performed in close collaboration with COMSOL, the leading developer of the Multiphysics modelling software.
Organisations involved in the project
Description in a picture
Contact person
Artem Kulachenko,
KTH Royal Institute of Technology
artem@kth.se