Phase Transformations in Lithium-Ion Batteries

New applications of Li-ion batteries in electric vehicles, portable electronics, and renewable energy storage require dramatic improvements in power density and cycle life, but the underlying dynamical processes are not yet fully understood. Bazant has developed a new mathematical theory, incorporating non-equilibrium thermodynamics for the first time, which predicts wave-like phase transformations and mechanisms to achieve ultrafast discharging (in seconds rather than hours).