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Failure and hazard characterisation of high-power lithium-ion cells via coupling accelerating rate calorimetry with in-line mass spectrometry, statistical and post-mortem analyses

Buckwell, M; Kirchner-Burles, C; Owen, RE; Neville, TP; Weaving, JS; Brett, DJL; Shearing, PR; (2023) Failure and hazard characterisation of high-power lithium-ion cells via coupling accelerating rate calorimetry with in-line mass spectrometry, statistical and post-mortem analyses. Journal of Energy Storage , 65 , Article 107069. 10.1016/j.est.2023.107069. (In press). Green open access

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Abstract

Lithium-ion battery safety continues to be an obstacle for electric vehicles and electrified aerospace. Cell failure must be studied in order to engineer improved cells, battery packs and management systems. In this work, the thermal runaway of commercially available, high-power cells is studied, to understand the optimal areas to develop mitigation strategies. Accelerating rate calorimetry is coupled with mass spectrometry to examine self-heating and the corresponding evolution of gases. A statistical analysis of cell failure is then conducted, combined with post-mortem examinations. The methodology forms a robust assessment of cell failure, including the expected worst- and best-cases, and the associated real-world hazards. Cells produce a highly flammable, toxic gas mixture which varies over the course of self-heating. Failure also produces particulate matter which poses a severe health hazard. Critically, the onset of self-heating is detectable more than a day in advance of full thermal runaway. Likewise, voltage drops and leaks are detectable prior to venting, highlighting the potential for highly effective early onset detection. Furthermore, the behaviour of the cap during thermal runaway indicates that ejection of material likely reduces the chance of thermal runaway propagation to neighbouring cells. These findings also emphasise that research must be conducted safely.

Type: Article
Title: Failure and hazard characterisation of high-power lithium-ion cells via coupling accelerating rate calorimetry with in-line mass spectrometry, statistical and post-mortem analyses
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1016/j.est.2023.107069
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2023.107069
Language: English
Additional information: © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Keywords: Lithium ion batteries, Mass spectrometry, Accelerating rate calorimetry, Thermal runaway, Onset, Mitigation
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Chemical Engineering
URI: https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10168602
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