Modeling of Li-ion batteries with Highly-Ordered Hierarchical Electrode Design

Wednesday, September 15, 2021: 1:40 PM
223 (America's Center)
Mr. Vishwas Goel , University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Mr. Kuan-Hung Chen , University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Ms. Minji Namkoong , University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Dr. Chenglin Yang , University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Dr. Saeed Kazemiabnavi , University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Dr. S.M. Mortuza , University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Prof. Jyoti Mazumder , University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Prof. Jeff Sakamoto , University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Prof. Neil P. Dasgupta , University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Prof. Katsuyo Thornton , University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
The advent of battery-powered electric vehicles has generated a need for batteries that are both energy and power dense. Traditionally, thick electrodes with heavy active material loading are used for enhancing the energy density of a battery. However, thick electrodes (with a loading of > 2.5 mAh/cm2) limits the ionic transport inside the electrode, thereby limiting the power density of the battery.1 Decreasing the thickness of the electrodes, as well as increasing the porosity, can enhance the power density of a battery, but this increases the fraction of electrochemically inactive materials, such as current collectors, separator, and packing material, leading to reduced energy density. Therefore, the conventional electrode design is constrained by the tradeoff between the energy density and power density.

In this presentation, we examine the role of laser-ablated channels within a thick anode in reducing the ionic transport limitation.2 We apply the porous electrode model3 to simulate the effect of the channels on the ionic concentration gradient and reaction rate, as well as the resultant rate capability of the cell during fast charging. We will describe the model parameterization using three-electrode measurements and the associated challenges. The model results show substantial improvement in the electrolyte salt concentration and homogeneity in the reaction rate because of the channels as compared to that in the conventional electrodes at high charging rates such as 4C and 6C.

References:

  1. Gallagher, K. G. et al. Optimizing areal capacities through understanding the limitations of lithium-ion electrodes. J. Electrochem. Soc. 163, A138–A149 (2016).
  2. Kim, Y., Drews, A., Chandrasekaran, R., Miller, T. & Sakamoto, J. Improving Li-ion battery charge rate acceptance through highly ordered hierarchical electrode design. Ionics (Kiel). 24, 2935–2943 (2018).
  3. Newman, J. & Tiedemann, W. Porous-Electrode Theory with Battery Applications. AIChe J. 21, 25–41 (1975).