Advances and challenges in thermal runaway modelling of lithium-ion batteries

The broader application of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is constrained by safety concerns arising from thermal runaway (TR). Accurate prediction of TR is essential to comprehend its underlying mechanisms, expedite battery design, and enhance safety protocols, thereby significantly promoting the safer use of LIBs. The complex, nonlinear nature of LIB systems presents substantial challenges in TR modelling, stemming from the need to address multiscale simulations, multiphysics coupling, and computing efficiency issues. This paper provides an extensive review and outlook on TR modelling technologies, focusing on recent advances, current challenges, and potential future directions. We begin with an overview of the evolutionary processes and underlying mechanisms of TR from multiscale perspectives, laying the foundation for TR modelling. Following a comprehensive understanding of TR phenomena and mechanisms, we introduce a multiphysics coupling model framework to encapsulate these aspects. Within this framework, we detail four fundamental physics modelling approaches: thermal, electrical, mechanical, and fluid dynamic models, highlighting the primary challenges in developing and integrating these models. To address the intrinsic trade-off between computational accuracy and efficiency, we discuss several promising modelling strategies to accelerate TR simulations and explore the role of artificial intelligence in advancing next-generation TR models. Lastly, we discuss challenges related to data availability, model scalability, and safety standards and regulations.