Learning Reaction-Diffusion Kinetics from Mechanical Information

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Ihuaenyi, Royal C., Zhao, Hongbo, Fang, Ruqing, Bai, Ruobing, Bazant, Martin Z., Zhu, Juner
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Ihuaenyi, Royal C.
Zhao, Hongbo
Fang, Ruqing
Bai, Ruobing
Bazant, Martin Z.
Zhu, Juner
author_facet Ihuaenyi, Royal C.
Zhao, Hongbo
Fang, Ruqing
Bai, Ruobing
Bazant, Martin Z.
Zhu, Juner
contents A central challenge in materials science is characterizing chemical processes that are elusive to direct measurement, particularly in functional materials operating under realistic conditions. Here, we demonstrate that mechanical strain fields contain sufficient information to reconstruct hidden chemical kinetics in coupled chemomechanical systems. Our partial differential equation-constrained learning framework decodes concentration-dependent diffusion kinetics, thermodynamic driving forces, and spatially heterogeneous reaction rates solely from mechanical observations. Using battery electrode materials as a model system, we demonstrate that the framework can accurately identify complex constitutive laws governing three distinct scenarios: classical Fickian diffusion, spinodal decomposition with pattern formation, and heterogeneous electrochemical reactions with spatial rate variations. The approach demonstrates robustness while maintaining accuracy with limited spatial data and reasonable experimental noise levels. Most significantly, the framework simultaneously infers multiple fundamental processes and properties, including diffusivity, reaction kinetics, chemical potential, and spatial heterogeneity maps, all from mechanical information alone. This method establishes a paradigm for materials characterization, enabling accurate learning of chemical processes in energy storage systems, catalysts, and phase-change materials where conventional diagnostics prove difficult. By revealing that mechanical deformation patterns serve as information-rich fingerprints of the underlying chemical processes, this work follows the pathway of inversely learning constitutive laws, with broad implications in materials science and engineering.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2508_17523
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Learning Reaction-Diffusion Kinetics from Mechanical Information
Ihuaenyi, Royal C.
Zhao, Hongbo
Fang, Ruqing
Bai, Ruobing
Bazant, Martin Z.
Zhu, Juner
Materials Science
A central challenge in materials science is characterizing chemical processes that are elusive to direct measurement, particularly in functional materials operating under realistic conditions. Here, we demonstrate that mechanical strain fields contain sufficient information to reconstruct hidden chemical kinetics in coupled chemomechanical systems. Our partial differential equation-constrained learning framework decodes concentration-dependent diffusion kinetics, thermodynamic driving forces, and spatially heterogeneous reaction rates solely from mechanical observations. Using battery electrode materials as a model system, we demonstrate that the framework can accurately identify complex constitutive laws governing three distinct scenarios: classical Fickian diffusion, spinodal decomposition with pattern formation, and heterogeneous electrochemical reactions with spatial rate variations. The approach demonstrates robustness while maintaining accuracy with limited spatial data and reasonable experimental noise levels. Most significantly, the framework simultaneously infers multiple fundamental processes and properties, including diffusivity, reaction kinetics, chemical potential, and spatial heterogeneity maps, all from mechanical information alone. This method establishes a paradigm for materials characterization, enabling accurate learning of chemical processes in energy storage systems, catalysts, and phase-change materials where conventional diagnostics prove difficult. By revealing that mechanical deformation patterns serve as information-rich fingerprints of the underlying chemical processes, this work follows the pathway of inversely learning constitutive laws, with broad implications in materials science and engineering.
title Learning Reaction-Diffusion Kinetics from Mechanical Information
topic Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.17523