Prevention of Mechanical Failure in Battery Electrodes During Fast Charging

PI: Wendy Gu, Mechanical Engineering, Gu Lab

The development of fast charging Li-ion batteries (<10 minutes at a charging station) will greatly accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles by consumers. One major technical hurdle is the mechanical degradation of battery electrodes during cycling, which leads to reduced charging capacity and battery life. This project will use nano-mechanical measurements to directly measuring strength, deformation and failure of individual particles at high strain rates and under cyclic loading. Mechanical failure mechanisms will be correlated to cycle life, power output, capacity fade and microstructural changes during battery testing.