Thermal Modeling of Electrolyte in a Li-ion Battery for Self-powered Nanosystems

Thermal management is of significant concern for Li-ion battery operation and storage. If the temperature surpasses certain limits, undesired exothermic chemical reactions may be triggered with a potential thermal runaway of the battery. This research analyzes the thermal behavior of an electrolyte-centric system with nano-scale dimension in the absence of passage of electric current. The model accounts for the Li ions, momentum, and thermal balance, considering free convection may occur within the electrolyte solution. Numerical calculations techniques are used for the study. The model concludes that heat can be dissipated properly in this type of system, avoiding thermal runaway situations. This is an important finding for energy storage applications where proper functioning is needed to guarantee continuous and independent operation, such as self-powered micro or nano electronic devices.