English

A Physics-Regularized Neural Network and Kirchhoff Markov Random Field Framework for Inferring Internal Electrochemical States from Operando Spectromicroscopy

Chemical Physics 2026-02-24 v1 Disordered Systems and Neural Networks Materials Science

Abstract

Quantitative understanding of coupled reaction and transport processes in lithium-ion battery (LIB) composite electrodes remains challenging because key internal states cannot be measured directly. In this study, we develop a physics-integrated, data-driven analysis pipeline to estimate internal electrochemical states from operando microscopic X-ray absorption fine structure (μ\mu-XAFS) hyperspectral data of LIB cathodes with LiPF6_6 electrolyte. State-of-charge (SOC) maps are first constructed from Co K-edge spectra. To resolve ambiguities in the two-phase reaction region, a physics-regularized three-layer neural network is introduced, enforcing spatial continuity of SOC and current conservation. The inferred SOC dynamics are then incorporated into a Kirchhoff-based Markov random field framework that integrates Kirchhoff's current and voltage laws, Ohm's law, and a symmetric Butler-Volmer relation to estimate interfacial current, ionic current, electrolyte potential, and effective ionic conductivity. Application to composite electrodes with different initial electrolyte concentrations (0.3, 1, and 2M LiPF6_6) reveals distinct reaction propagation behaviors governed by electrolyte concentration-dependent conductivity. The inferred electrolyte concentration distributions show qualitative agreement with independent operando X-ray transmission imaging performed on LIB composite cathodes employing a LiAsF6_6 electrolyte. This framework enables quantitative visualization of otherwise inaccessible internal transport phenomena.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2602.19888,
  title  = {A Physics-Regularized Neural Network and Kirchhoff Markov Random Field Framework for Inferring Internal Electrochemical States from Operando Spectromicroscopy},
  author = {Naoki Wada and Yuta Kimura and Masaichiro Mizumaki and Koji Amezawa and Ichiro Akai and Toru Aonishi},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2602.19888},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

46 pages, 8 figures