DOI: 10.3390/coatings16080930 ISSN: 2079-6412

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy and Equivalent Circuit Modeling of Low-Impedance Lithium-Ion Battery Cells for Electric Vehicles

Siyuan Wang, Masoud Rostami Angas, Vidyu Challa, Cing-Dao Kan, Leyu Wang

Accurate electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) characterization of low-impedance (<1 mΩ) lithium-ion battery cells used in electric vehicles is challenging because resistance and inductance in the measurement pathway can be comparable to the intrinsic cell impedance. This study investigates an EV-grade, large-format commercial lithium-ion pouch cell using a four-terminal EIS configuration and a custom connection fixture designed to maintain low and consistent contact resistance and reduce measurement-pathway effects. The EIS measurements shows good repeatability, and their linearity was confirmed using the Kramers–Kronig validity test. Impedance spectra acquired under selected state-of-charge (SOC) and temperature conditions were interpreted using an equivalent circuit model comprising an effective series inductance, an ohmic resistance, a constant phase element, a charge-transfer resistance, and a generalized Warburg element. Bayesian optimization followed by Nelder–Mead refinement was applied for parameter identification. The selected model represents the measured inductive, interfacial, and diffusion-related features as effective lumped responses rather than as a unique mechanistic decomposition. Across the SOC conditions investigated, the fitted ohmic resistance and charge-transfer resistance generally decreased as the temperature increased from 25 °C to 40 °C. By reducing the measurement errors related to the connection method rather than relying solely on instrument-side accuracy improvements, this work provides a practical approach for EIS measurements of milliohm-scale battery cells. These results establish a foundation for future temperature-compensated impedance diagnostics and further investigation of interfacial and transport behavior in EV battery cells.

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