Low-frequency non-destructive adaptive fastest pulse preheating for lithium-ion batteries

Low-temperature polarization sharply reduces lithium-ion battery capacity and power, limiting electric vehicles and energy storage systems in cold regions. Bidirectional pulsed current (BPC) self-heating exploits increased internal resistance to enable efficient, rapid, and uniform heating, but high-rate pulses may induce lithium plating. Although high-frequency (>100 Hz) BPC suppresses plating, it requires additional power components. Here, we propose an adaptive, non-destructive BPC heating strategy that adjusts pulse current with temperature and state of charge (SOC), enabling the fastest heating within the lithium-plating-free boundary at low frequencies (<1 Hz). Using parameters optimized with three-electrode cells, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) batteries were heated from -15°C to 10°C while maintaining the negative electrode potential above 0 V (vs. Li/Li⁺). After 100 heating cycles, neither chemistry showed capacity degradation, and post-heating analysis revealed no lithium plating, confirming safe and non-destructive low-temperature heating without compromising battery performance or requiring high-frequency auxiliary power electronics.