New technique analyses battery failure

(Credit: Kristoferb via CC)

The study, published in Energy and Environmental Science, used a device patented by engineers from NASA and the US NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) to initiate short circuits in batteries, mimicking the failures sometimes seen in consumer electronics and EVs. Using high-speed X-ray imaging, the researchers then monitored what happened to the structure of the cells in real-time, as the short circuit drove thermal runaway in the devices.

“In previous work, we’ve tracked Li-ion battery failure caused by extreme heat in 3D and real-time, but this is the first time we’ve tracked what happens to the temperature and structure of cells when we short-circuit the battery in a controlled way at an internal location of our choosing, initiating a series of potentially dangerous events,” explained first author, Dr Donal Finegan (UCL, NASA and NREL).

“This is of particular interest, as short-circuiting is thought to be responsible for a number of high-profile, real-world failures. Knowing when and where the cell will fail has allowed us to characterise what happens during catastrophic failure in-depth using high-speed X-ray imaging. This provides us with new insights to help guide the design and development of safer and more reliable Li-ion batteries.”