Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Mechanical Engineering
Committee Chair
George Nelson
Committee Member
Guangsheng Zhang
Committee Member
Nick Ginga
Committee Member
Avimanyu Sahoo
Committee Member
Jason Cassibry
Research Advisor
George Nelson
Subject(s)
Lithium ion batteries--Design and construction, Electrodes, Battery charging stations (Electric vehicles)
Abstract
The growing demand for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles, grid storage, and consumer electronics drives the need for advancements in energy density and power capability. Achieving higher energy density requires improved electrode architectures to enhance ionic transport while minimizing polarization and resistive losses. Although increasing electrode thickness can boost energy density, it also introduces transport limitations and raises the risk of lithium plating. A promising solution to this challenge is the integration of electrolyte channels within multi-layer electrodes, which can enhance lithium-ion mobility, particularly under high-rate cycling conditions. This study explores potential improvements to conventional lithium-ion cells that enable high energy density while supporting fast charging and high C-rate operation. A 2D lithium-ion battery model is employed to investigate the effects of thick electrodes under different C-rates in a single-cell stack. Five distinct cell configurations are analyzed, each featuring a multi-layer electrode architecture with electrolyte channels positioned in the anode and/or cathode at varying thicknesses. Simulations were conducted using cathodes with thicknesses of 150 µm and 200 µm, discharged at C/10 and C/2, followed by charging at C/2, 1C, 2C, 3C, and 5C. Additionally, the impact of rest periods on cell capacity and lithium plating was examined. The results demonstrate that the multi-layer electrode architecture, combined with strategically integrated electrolyte channels, significantly enhances overall battery performance by improving ionic transport, reducing polarization, and mitigating lithium plating, ultimately leading to higher capacity retention. A dimensionless parameter analysis was performed to compare battery performance across different electrode modifications and C-rates. The scaling behavior derived from these parameters provides valuable insights into the benefits and trade-offs of various electrode design strategies, offering a pathway for optimizing next-generation lithium-ion batteries.
Recommended Citation
Patel, Prehit, "The impact of electrode design on lithium-ion battery fast charging" (2025). Dissertations. 450.
https://louis.uah.edu/uah-dissertations/450
