Modeling the Dynamics of Cylindrical Lithium-ion Battery Aging Due to Evolving Solid Electrolyte Interphase Layer

Abstract The solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer plays a critical role in the aging and degradation of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), directly influencing their performance and longevity. This paper presents a physics-based model that quantitatively characterizes SEI layer growth in cylindrical LIBs by incorporating ionic current density as a governing parameter. The presented approach captures localized SEI dynamics by coupled state-space equations (SSEs) within an convex optimization framework. The model accounts for both uniform and nonlinear SEI growth phases, predicting capacity fade and impedance evolution over cycling aging. Validation against experimental charge-discharge profiles, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) characterization, and equivalent circuit modeling demonstrates the model’s precision in tracking SEI-related degradation. The proposed framework offers a robust, interpretable, and computationally efficient tool for battery diagnostics and lifetime prediction.