Numerical investigation of kinetic mechanism for runaway thermo-electrochemistry in lithium-ion cells

Thermal runaway of lithium-ion cells is a complex process governed by heat production due to thermal decomposition reactions and heat transport within the cells. Exothermic characteristics are simulated for solid electrolyte interface (SEI) on anode of a Li-ion cell. As a pilot study preliminary to building thermal runaway mitigation system, exothermic SEI decomposition and formation reactions are included in thermo-electrochemical 1D model in addition to lithium insertion in multi-scale model of battery kinetics. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) simulations of negative electrode are used to parameterize and validate the model against experiments in literature. Simulations under constant and rising ambient temperature show the onset of runaway at temperatures around 400 K.