Investigating the Impact of Varied C-Rates on Lithium-Ion Batteries: A 1D Simulation Study

With the advancement of powertrain technology and progressive vehicle electrification, one of the solutions for the growing need for energy storage is batteries. A secondary battery is a device that stores electrical energy in chemical form and delivers it as electrical energy when needed (discharging), with the possibility to revert the process converting electrical to chemical energy (charging). The lithium-ion battery type used in the study offers increased energy and power density with a cell voltage of approximately 3.6 V, making it suitable for use in portable electronic devices like mobile phones and laptops. In this research, a 1D model (through-electrolyte direction) of lithium-ion battery was analysed, in which the effect of different C-rates was investigated using the battery and design module of COMSOL Multiphysics software for 0.1C, 0.5C, 1C, 2C, and 3C rates, relevant for automotive applications. The simulation results of the lithium-ion battery model constitute an important step towards the development of battery technology, allowing an understanding of the transport processes in the electrodes and electrolyte. The results revealed that under higher C-rates of operation, differences emerge in electrolyte and electrode voltage ranges, salt concentration profiles in the electrolyte, surface and center electrode particle lithium concentrations.