GIAN Course

Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN)

Fundamentals of Nanoscale Thermal Transport and Electrochemistry in Advanced Lithium Ion Batteries

Dates: 4th to 8th August, 2025

Venue: IIT Ropar, Rupnagar - 140001, Punjab, India

Overview:

Li-ion batteries play a key role in a wide variety of energy conversion and storage applications. For example, Li-ion batteries enable the storage of renewable energy such as wind and solar, thereby helping address the problem of intermittency of these sources of energy. Li-ion batteries are also at the heart of electric vehicles (EVs), both cars as well as two-wheelers. Improving the safety and performance of Li-ion batteries is critical for continued advances in these fields, which may have profound societal and economic implications in a developing country such as India. 

Heat transfer plays a key role in determining the efficiency as well as safety of Li-ion batteries. There is a rather narrow temperature window in which energy storage and conversion in Li-ion batteries is safe and efficient. At temperatures below this window, the storage efficiency plummets dramatically. On the other hand, at excessive temperatures, Li-ion cells may undergo thermal runaway, which refers to a series of highly exothermic decomposition reactions that may lead to catastrophic failure, as evidenced in recent incidents of fire and explosion in electric vehicles and electronic devices. Important thermal-related problems in Li-ion cells include power/capacity fade, self discharge and pack-level imbalance due to temperature non-uniformity. Multiple heat transfer challenges exist at multiple lengthscales in the design and optimization of Li-ion cells. There is a need for materials with novel thermal properties, as well as careful system-level optimization. A workforce that is well conversant with such challenges in energy engineering is critical for continued innovations in this field.

This GIAN course will present an integrated, one week course that will teach heat transfer in advanced Li-ion batteries, with focus on micro- and nanoscale thermal transport, thermal runaway and measurements. It is expected that the course will benefit students and faculty carrying out research in the field of energy engineering as well as peripheral research directions, as well as industry technologists who work in related fields.

The primary objectives of the course are as follows:

• To introduce participants to Li-ion battery technology.

• To teach fundamental heat transfer processes relevant to Li-ion batteries.

• To discuss state-of-the-art in thermal management and safety of Li-ion batteries.

• To discuss state-of-the-art experimental measurement techniques in thermal engineering of Li-ion batteries.

• To discuss inter-disciplinary aspects of research and development in these fields.

Brochure:

The course brochure is available on the following link. 

Course Schedule

Will be uploaded soon.

Registration, fees and payment details:

Link for registration.

Contact Details:

Student volunteers:

Mr. Kulbhushan Yadav  kulbhushan.22mez0007[AT]iitrpr.ac.in

Mr. Abhishek S. Kashyap abhishek.19mez0009[AT]iitrpr.ac.in

Mr. Ravi Beniwal ravi.20mez0013[AT]iitrpr.ac.in

Mr. Vishal Yadav 2023mem1051[AT]iitrpr.ac.in

Mr. Davinder Singh 2023mem1040[AT]iitrpr.ac.in