A model for identifying ways to better protect lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicle from degrading has been developed by a team of mathematicians, physicists and engineers at the University of Portsmouth. This would help extend the life of electric batteries, which are becoming increasingly important as so many vehicles and machines are being built to run electrically.
The research, published in the Journal of Mechanics of Physics and Solids, is an important step forward towards production of longer-lasting, improved performance, rechargeable batteries and will be of substantial value to the lithium-ion battery industry.
Lithium-ion batteries are important in a wide range of technology, including electric vehicles, laptops, tablets, mobile phones and even medical devices, but deterioration of the battery adversely impacts the length of time that they are operationally effective.
Longer lasting electric vehicle batteries
Professor Jamie Foster from the School of Mathematics and Physics led the study. He said: “This is fundamental research which is unearthing how mechanical stress affects battery function, and has led us to develop a mechanical model which can be used in lithium-ion battery development to test solutions to prevent the deterioration of battery function and protect against damage.
“Ultimately, this could lead to manufacturers being able to produce rechargeable batteries that have a longer, serviceable lifespan. Lithium-ion batteries will be a key technology in realising a truly sustainable and low-carbon economy in the coming decades, and so such improvements are urgently needed.
In developing the model, three situations were studied: how batteries behave when compressed; how electrodes react when they first come into contact with liquid electrolytes; and how the battery cells are affected by sudden impact. Previous research in this area was also taken account of.
The effective equations derived from the study and which make up the model, mean it will be easier, faster and cheaper, to compute how a battery behaves in different situations.
Dr Foster added: “An extension to the service life of lithium-ion batteries would translate directly to lower prices for consumers – something which is needed in the growing electric vehicle market.”
The study, “Multiple scales homogenisation of a porous viscoelastic material with rigid inclusions: Application to lithium-ion battery electrodes”, is available online here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022509625000481
Authors: J.M. Foster, A.F. Galvis, B. Protas, S.J. Chapman.
DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57868-6
About the University of Portsmouth
The University of Portsmouth is a progressive and dynamic university with an outstanding reputation for innovative teaching, outstanding learning outcomes and globally significant research and innovation.
Our 28,000-student population includes over 5,000 international and EU students from more than 150 countries. Our city centre campus is at the heart of a lively city by the sea, on England’s south coast.
We were awarded the highest overall rating of Gold in the most recent Teaching Excellence Framework, one of only 27 Gold rated universities in England and one of five Gold rated universities in the South East. We’re proud to be one of the UK’s top 50 universities (with a 5-star rating) in the QS World University Rankings and one of the top 10 Young Universities in the UK based on Times Higher Education Young University rankings.
Our research and innovation impacts lives today and in the future. Researchers work closely with business, industry and the public sector to solve local, national and global challenges across science, technology, humanities, business and creative industries.
Our world-class research is validated by our impressive Research Excellence Framework (REF) outcomes where Portsmouth was ranked third of all modern UK universities for research power in the Times Higher Education REF rankings.
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