Marco Lagnoni

Background

About Marco Lagnoni

My research activity mainly focuses on the multi-scale physically-based modelling of electrochemical energy systems, such as lithium-ion batteries and metal-air batteries, with a special focus on the interaction between microstructural properties and the electrochemical performance of the cell. I have developed steady-state and transient models, based on mass and charge conservation equations, to simulate the electrochemistry within electrodes and within a whole cell. On the lithium-ion side, I'm currently working on the modelling of both degradation and thermal phenomena, while on the metal-air side, on the development of a solid framework to account for the discharge product's microstructure evolution during both charge and discharge. The coupling of these models' features allows the prediction of the macroscopic performance of the cell (such as energy/power density, operative voltage, state of charge, state of health) and also of the microscopic distribution of meaningful performance indicators (such as activation overpotential at electrodes, film thickness e.g. lithium plating or solid electrolyte interface, metal insulating films) given the measurable and controllable parameters available in reality (e.g, volume fractions, transport properties, operating conditions). This approach has been used to support the interpretation of experimental polarization, morphological, and microstructural data, and as a design tool to optimize electrodes microstructure.