
Speaker: Dr. Srinath Chakravarthy,
Senior Fellow and Director
Factorial Energy, Boston, USA
Date: 25-January-2025 (Saturday)
Time: 6:00–7:30 p.m. IST
Abstract:
Abstract:
Understanding the mechanics and metallurgy of Lithium metal are crucial in addressing technical challenges and aiding commercialization of All-solid-state lithium metal batteries (ASSLBs). So, what makes ASSLBs different? One quick answer is the solid/solid interface. All solid state batteries do not contain liquid electrolytes and the interfacial mechanics between Li-metal and solid electrolyte are important to avoid the formation and propagation of Li-dendrites. This uniqueness has assigned a dominant role to mechanical characterization and engineering for SSBs. Most ASSLB’s require the application of external pressures > 1 MPa for adequate functioning. Elucidating the role of external pressures of > 1 MPa and its relationship to creep of Li metal, deformation, fracture and volume changes of the various electrodes is important to successful design of ASSLB. The choice of lithium metal and its treatment can influence battery performance. Metallurgical techniques such as alloying or creating lithium-based composites may improve the cycling stability and suppress dendrite growth. A new class of porous host layers with unique phase-transition behavior with Li-metal have been proposed in order to alleviate some of the contact and dendrite formation traditionally plaguing ASSLB’s. Together, advances in mechanics and metallurgy are vital for optimizing the performance, safety, and longevity of all-solid-state lithium metal batteries. These aspects are integral to achieving the higher energy densities and improved safety profiles that ASSLBs promise. In this talk, I will address several of these challenges, posed solutions and important questions that still remain.
Bio-data of the speaker:
Dr. Srinath Chakravarthy received his undergraduate degree from M.S. Ramaiah and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Connecticut. During his post-doctoral research at Brown University he focused on modelling and development of an advanced algorithm for dislocation based plasticity and fracture at the micro and nano-scale. He was a faculty in the Mechanical Engineering department at Northeastern University in Boston where the focus was on the development of concurrent Multi-scale models that can be used to simultaneously study phenomena occurring at scales from Angstroms to meters. He then worked as a Principal Scientist at Samsung research focusing on Electro-chemo-mechanics of Li metal, the effects of plasticity and the coupling of Li metal plasticity on the development of All-Solid-State batteries with Li metal. For the last 3 years, he has been at Factorial Energy and currently a Senior Director of R&D, Simulation and AI, once again focusing on developing predictive models to enhance the performance, stability and safety of next generation Energy storage technologies.
Organized by:
InSIS and Center for Structural Integrity of Safety Critical Systems, IIT Madras

