Computer Modeling of Batteries from Nonlinear Circuit Elements

Circuit analogs for a single battery cell have previously been composed of resistors, capacitors, and inductors. This work introduces a nonlinear circuit model for cell behavior. The circuit is configured around the PIN junction diode, whose charge‐storage behavior has features similar to those of electrochemical cells. A user‐friendly integrated circuit simulation computer program has reproduced a variety of complex cell responses including electrical isolation effects causing capacity loss, as well as potentiodynamic peaks and discharge phenomena hitherto thought to be thermodynamic in origin. However, in this work, they are shown to be simply due to spatial distribution of stored charge within a practical electrode.