Investigation of Electrochemical Systems Degradation under Realistic Operating Conditions

Author

• Efat Mohammadi

Date

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Mechanical Engineering

Committee Chair

Alexander Headley

Committee Member

Hasan Ali

Committee Member

Jeffrey Marchetta

Committee Member

Reed Wittman

Committee Member

Yong Lee

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the degradation of electrochemical energy storage systems, in particular lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), under realistic operating conditions. These systems are crucial in a wide range of applications, including portable electronics, electric vehicles, and grid storage. While the efficiency and longevity of these systems are critical, their performance is often hindered by degradation processes. Current research predominantly relies on idealized laboratory scenarios with simplified steady conditions to investigate the performance of these systems, which fail to capture the complexity of real-world operations. Consequently, the influence of dynamic operating conditions on the degradation of LIB systems remains insufficiently characterized in literature. This research aims to overcome these limitations by assessing the health and performance of electrochemical energy storage systems under realistic operating conditions, thereby providing a deeper insight into degradation phenomena. To achieve this, I set up a Power-Hardware-in-the-Loop (PHIL) environment that allows us to replicate complex scenarios and control conditions in a real-world experimental setting. Specifically, I used a real-time simulator, which serves as a core component of our PHIL environment, enabling integration of physical batteries into the emulated real-world load control scenarios. This method allows the safe and flexible testing of high-power devices with a wide range of simulated control scenarios, an advantage over traditional testing methods. Here, dynamic load profiles inspired by real-world vehicle drive cycle protocols were applied to different LIB chemistries. The effects of control scenarios on LIBs performance when subject to dynamic loads were investigated. The results indicate that even slight variations in dynamic loads can have a substantial impact on the batteries’ health over the cycling period. Meaning that, while LIBs performance is fundamentally chemistry-dependent, the development of optimized load control strategies can also significantly affect a system's longevity and performance, independent of material science advancements. This underscores the importance of integrating real-world test protocols and control systems—as developed in this study—with LIBs design and selection to maximize operational life and efficiency. By reflecting the conditions these systems encounter in real-world applications, this study yields more comprehensive insights to evaluate the performance of LIB cells.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest/Clarivate.

Notes

Embargoed until 2027-04-03

Recommended Citation

Mohammadi, Efat, "Investigation of Electrochemical Systems Degradation under Realistic Operating Conditions" (2026). Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive. 3991.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/etd/3991