A mathematical model is developed to simulate the impedance response of a w
ide range of lithium rechargeable battery systems. The mathematical model i
s a macroscopic model of a full-cell sandwich utilizing porous electrode th
eory to treat the electrode region and concentrated solution theory for tra
nsport processes in solution. insertion processes are described with charge
-transfer Kinetic expressions and solid-phase diffusion of lithium into the
active electrode material. The impedance model assumes steady-state condit
ions and a linear response with the perturbation applied about the open-cir
cuit condition for the battery. The simulated impedance response of a speci
fic system, the lithium-polymer cell Li\PEO18LiCF3SO3\LiTiS2, is analyzed i
n more detail to illustrate several features of the impedance behavior. Par
ticular attention is paid to the measurement of solid-phase lithium-ion dif
fusion coefficients in the insertion electrodes using impedance techniques.
A number of complication that can lead to errors in diffusion-coefficient
measurements based on impedance techniques are discussed. (C) 2000 The Elec
trochemical Society. S0013-4651(98)11-056-X. All rights reserved.