Emily Ryan

Mesoscopic Phenomena in Electrochemical Systems

Complex chemical-physical phenomena, such as reactive transport, heat transfer and hydrodynamics, are critical to the operation and performance of advanced electrochemical systems. The critical physics of these systems occurs at the meso-scale interfaces between phases, such as the electrode-electrolyte interfaces in batteries and fuel cells. Experimentally visualizing interfaces is challenging due to their small scales, imbedded nature and complex geometry. Computational modeling is a powerful tool for understanding the physics within these energy systems, especially in interfacial regions. In this talk I will discuss research into the development of computational methods for the simulation the electrode-electrolyte interface of lithium batteries and the importance of considering the system at the meso-scale. Resolving the mesoscopic phenomena in the interfacial region is critical to understanding the stability and performance of batteries.