Pulse Voltammetry Tools for Accurate and Rapid Analysis of Batteries

Pulse voltammetry techniques, coupled with model-based analysis tools, provide a number of advantages for quantitative analysis of electrochemically active materials that govern the performance of batteries and fuel cells. In prior Phase I and II research, CFD Research developed and validated computational models in software that reads voltammogram data from laboratory instruments; predicts the response of multistep electrochemical mechanisms from entire square wave voltammograms; and determines reaction kinetic parameters with statistical uncertainty quantification and mechanism discrimination. The analysis package was extended to address porous fuel cell and battery electrode applications. During this Phase II, we will partner with Purdue University to further develop and validate the analysis tools through battery characterization in support of the Hybrid-on-Hybrid Tactical UAS concept demonstration project. The team will use pulse voltammetry, related electrochemical measurement techniques, and complementary physical analysis to identify charge and discharge rate controlling processes for H2-TUAS batteries, quantify corresponding model parameters, and produce models for degradation during operational duty cycles including fast charge. The approach will be validated through applying and testing the resulting models for custom battery cell design, optimizing fast charging protocols, and generating compact models of state of charge and health for use in battery management systems.