Thermal consequences of fast–charging–induced anode aging in Lithium–Ion Batteries: Lifetime, safety, and modelling

Fast charging improves battery availability, but the associated lifetime loss cannot be separated from the cell's changing thermal state. This review examines the effects of operating temperature, charge rate, state of charge, and accumulated resistance on heat generation, anode evolution, and thermal safety. The discussion focuses on the interaction between persistent solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) growth and rate–sensitive lithium plating. As SEI–related resistance develops, irreversible heating and anode polarization increase during later charging. Plated and dead lithium add reactive material that can bring forward self–heating. Cells at comparable states of health may consequently respond differently to thermal abuse when their aging histories produce different interphases, resistance distributions, and lithium inventories. Evidence from calorimetry, abuse testing, plating diagnostics, and electrochemical–thermal models is examined to identify the internal variables that can connect lifetime prediction with safety analysis. The resulting pathway–resolved view informs charging control and thermal–safety assessment, but also shows that SEI, plating, resistance, and spatial–temperature states must be transferred consistently between service and abuse models.