During each impulse, the cell receives a precisely dosed burst of energy at low current but high voltage. The inter-electrode distance in a Li-ion cell (~10 μm) creates an intense electric field that ionizes the cathode surface. In the pause, lithium ions and electrons diffuse from cathode to anode, continuing to charge the cell from within. This ambipolar diffusion means part of the charge is delivered internally, without external current flow — reducing stress on the battery. The higher the applied voltage peak and the shorter the impulse, the greater the contribution from diffusion.

Conventional fast charging pushes 4C or higher currents through the cell, generating significant heat (I²R losses) and accelerating degradation. PulseCharge, instead, operates at much lower current (e.g., 2.44 A vs 6.7 A for the same Samsung 18650 cell) while still achieving ultra-fast charging. Because Joule heating is proportional to the square of the current, lowering current dramatically reduces thermal stress. At the same time, our high-voltage short pulses activate internal diffusion, so the cell keeps charging even in the absence of external current. This approach prevents lithium plating, structural damage, and premature capacity loss.

The PulseCharge driver repeats the pulse–pause cycle hundreds of times per second. Pulse width, frequency, and capacitor parameters are dynamically tuned to match the specific Li-ion chemistry and battery format. By adjusting these variables, we maximize diffusion contribution while keeping thermal rise under control. This high-frequency operation delivers consistent performance across different battery types, from consumer cells to EV packs. In lab tests, this has enabled charging 3–10× faster than standard CC/CV methods, without compromising safety.

Even under full ultra-fast charging, the temperature rise of the tested cell stayed around +11 °C. By comparison, conventional fast charging requires liquid cooling or massive heat sinks to manage the thermal load. Because our method relies on diffusion and low-current pulses, heat generation is minimal, making cooling systems redundant. This not only reduces complexity and cost, but also improves overall charging efficiency. Cooler operation directly translates to longer battery life and safer high-power applications.

Conventional fast charging must taper down after ~80% SOC to avoid overheating and structural damage, which is why “80% in 25 minutes” is a common claim. PulseCharge avoids this limitation: internal diffusion allows the cell to continue charging safely to 100% capacity. Because most of the charge comes from within, the battery experiences far less stress. Long-term testing shows only –2.8% capacity fade after 350 ultra-fast charge/discharge cycles, compared to –23% under standard CC/CV conditions. This means drivers and device users get both ultra-fast charging and a much longer battery lifespan.

We tested a standard Samsung 18650 Li-ion cell (1.5 Ah, 3.7 V) under the PulseCharge regime.

• Average voltage applied: ~11 V
• Average current: 2.44 A (vs 6.7 A in conventional fast charge)
• Charge time: 13 min 30 sec (2.6 V → 4.3 V, 0–100%)
• Temperature rise: +12 °C only

Delivered from source: ~0.55 Ah; extracted on discharge: 1.5 Ah
This means 63% of the total charge came from internal diffusion, not external current. The energy balance was 6.04 Wh in vs 5.55 Wh out — fully consistent with the laws of physics. These results validate PulseCharge as a fundamentally different and more efficient way to achieve ultra-fast charging.