Multiobjective topology optimization of anode structures for lithium-ion batteries

• Applicant: Professorin Dr.-Ing. Kerstin Weinberg
• Subject Area: Mechanics
• Term: from 2018 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 383779906

With the raising demand for portable consumer electronics and electrically driven vehicles comes an increased need for onboard energy storage, and lithium batteries are becoming the storage method of choice. In order to deploy high capacity silicon as a new anode material, the anode structure must adequately accommodate the large volume expansion upon lithiation. The design must also maximize electrical conduction through the structure to ensure good rate capability of the battery and it has to meet the life expectation requirements of a long time use. This requires an optimized anode design. To date, however, there have been no instances of design or topology optimization methods being applied to the silicon anode problem.The goal of the proposed research project is to develop an optimization tool for the design of silicon anodes within lithium-ion batteries. To utilize silicon as an anode material, the above mentioned competing design requirements must be incorporated in an adequate optimization strategy. The large volume expansion upon lithiation requires to extend the conventional topology optimization formulations to full finite kinematics. The demand for maximized electrical conduction through the structure is clearly competing with mechanical stability. Additionally, the strength, structural integrity and life expectation of the batteries are to be maximized and an additional objective of the proposed work will therefore be to extend topology optimization so as to account for accumulated damage. Within the advised project we will provide a novel numerical tool for the design of battery anodes using multi-objective topology optimization beyond traditional algorithms and with multiple competing objectives.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Michael Ortiz, Ph.D.