How do electrochemical energy storage devices perform?

The performances of electrochemical energy storage devices are largely determined by two fundamental processes: charge and mass (ion) transport. Both processes carry the flow of charges but with different microscopic mechanisms.

What is a battery energy storage system?

A battery energy storage system (BESS) is an electrochemical device that charges from the grid or a power plant and then discharges that energy to provide electricity or other grid services when needed.

What is a charge storage mechanism?

For charging a battery made of Li, Na, Mg, or Al, the mechanism can proceed based on three fundamental methods: intercalation, alloying, and conversion. Among these, intercalation is the most well-understood.

What is charge storage in supercapacitors?

Charge storage in supercapacitors is characterized by voltage-dependent capacitance and energy density. The differential capacitance of an electrode is defined as the derivative of the electrode’s charge with respect to its potential (Methods and Supplementary Section 2).

Can energy storage systems bridge the gap between high specific energy and power?

Researchers developing the next generation of energy storage systems are challenged to understand and analyze the different charge storage mechanisms, and subsequently use this understanding to design and control materials and devices that bridge the gap between high specific energy and power at a target cycle life.

Why do we need fast and accurate electrochemical energy storage models?

Beyond a better understanding of charge storage mechanisms and experimental observations, fast and accurate enough models would be helpful to provide theoretical guidance and experimental basis for the design of new high-performance electrochemical energy storage devices. 1. Introduction