Invited Presentation: Mathematical Modeling of Diffusion-Induced Stress and Other Coupled Physics in Li-Ion Batteries

The pursuit of high-energy-density, low-cost electrochemical energy storage systems for electric vehicles inevitably requires careful examination of the coupling between mechanics, electrochemistry, thermodynamics, and mass transport in batteries.  High-capacity Li battery materials such as Li alloys and Li metal undergo large volume changes during battery cycling, and the stress induced by these volume changes must be accommodated at the material, composite, or device level in order to reduce the rate of battery degradation.  Here we review some early work in the modeling of diffusion-induced stress in Li-ion insertion materials,[1,2] showcase other examples of multiscale, multidomain battery models,[3,4] and discuss future research directions in the field of battery modeling.

1.  J. Christensen and J. Newman, "Stress generation and fracture in lithium insertion materials," Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry, 2006. 10(5): p. 293-319.

2.  J. Christensen and J. Newman, "A Mathematical Model of Stress Generation and Fracture in Lithium Manganese Oxide," Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 2006. 153(6): p. A1019-A1030.

3.  J. Christensen, D. Cook, and P. Albertus, "An Efficient Parallelizable 3D Thermoelectrochemical Model of a Li-Ion Cell," Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 2013. 160(11): p. A2258-A2267.

4.  S. Patnaik, An Electrical Network Model for Computing Current Distribution in a Spirally Wound Lithium Ion Cell, MS Thesis, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Cambridge, MA (2012).