Using X-ray Microscopy to Probe Failure Mechanisms in Anode-free Cells: An Industry Perspective
To meet the energy demands of future electric vehicle technologies, batteries with ever-increasing energy densities are desired. One promising technology is an anode-free lithium metal battery (AFLMB) cell, where lithium ions are deposited directly on the anode current collector, resulting in more e...
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IOP Publishing
2024-01-01
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| Series: | ECS Advances |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1149/2754-2734/ad959c |
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| author | Jeffrey S. Lowe Umamaheswari Janakiraman Greg Less Robert Kerns Nancy S. Muyanja |
| author_facet | Jeffrey S. Lowe Umamaheswari Janakiraman Greg Less Robert Kerns Nancy S. Muyanja |
| author_sort | Jeffrey S. Lowe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | To meet the energy demands of future electric vehicle technologies, batteries with ever-increasing energy densities are desired. One promising technology is an anode-free lithium metal battery (AFLMB) cell, where lithium ions are deposited directly on the anode current collector, resulting in more energy dense cells relative to the current state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery cell. Nevertheless, anode-free cells are prone to early capacity degradation and cell failure. To better understand the degradation mechanisms in these devices, we present a methodology for assessing microstructural changes in battery cells that can be easily implemented within existing battery manufacturing facilities. We employed X-ray tomographic imaging and analyses on small format, AFLMB pouch cells. Anode thickness variations were characterized non-destructively by housing the pouch cells in fabricated pressurized jigs during both cycling and tomographic imaging. Additionally, we present a technique to measure cathode porosities and tortuosities at the end-of-life (EOL) with higher resolution X-ray imaging. The proposed methodology is able to accurately reproduce known microstructural behaviors in AFLMBs. At the anode, significant thickness changes are observed because of continuous electrolyte degradation and solid electrolyte interphase growth. At the cathode, large porosity changes are detected at the EOL, potentially owing to NCM (LiNi _x Co _y Mn _z O _2 ) particle cracking. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e147d1bb13614d9bb63a1b7d0948e43e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2754-2734 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
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| series | ECS Advances |
| spelling | doaj-art-e147d1bb13614d9bb63a1b7d0948e43e2025-08-20T02:31:13ZengIOP PublishingECS Advances2754-27342024-01-013404050110.1149/2754-2734/ad959cUsing X-ray Microscopy to Probe Failure Mechanisms in Anode-free Cells: An Industry PerspectiveJeffrey S. Lowe0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0816-9105Umamaheswari Janakiraman1Greg Less2Robert Kerns3Nancy S. Muyanja4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3394-5452Global Electrification and Battery Systems, General Motors, Warren, Michigan 48092, United States of AmericaGlobal Electrification and Battery Systems, General Motors, Warren, Michigan 48092, United States of AmericaUniversity of Michigan Battery Laboratory , Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States of AmericaMichigan Center for Materials Characterization, University of Michigan , College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States of AmericaMichigan Center for Materials Characterization, University of Michigan , College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States of AmericaTo meet the energy demands of future electric vehicle technologies, batteries with ever-increasing energy densities are desired. One promising technology is an anode-free lithium metal battery (AFLMB) cell, where lithium ions are deposited directly on the anode current collector, resulting in more energy dense cells relative to the current state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery cell. Nevertheless, anode-free cells are prone to early capacity degradation and cell failure. To better understand the degradation mechanisms in these devices, we present a methodology for assessing microstructural changes in battery cells that can be easily implemented within existing battery manufacturing facilities. We employed X-ray tomographic imaging and analyses on small format, AFLMB pouch cells. Anode thickness variations were characterized non-destructively by housing the pouch cells in fabricated pressurized jigs during both cycling and tomographic imaging. Additionally, we present a technique to measure cathode porosities and tortuosities at the end-of-life (EOL) with higher resolution X-ray imaging. The proposed methodology is able to accurately reproduce known microstructural behaviors in AFLMBs. At the anode, significant thickness changes are observed because of continuous electrolyte degradation and solid electrolyte interphase growth. At the cathode, large porosity changes are detected at the EOL, potentially owing to NCM (LiNi _x Co _y Mn _z O _2 ) particle cracking.https://doi.org/10.1149/2754-2734/ad959cbatteries – li-ionxray microtomography3D image processingbattery chemistry |
| spellingShingle | Jeffrey S. Lowe Umamaheswari Janakiraman Greg Less Robert Kerns Nancy S. Muyanja Using X-ray Microscopy to Probe Failure Mechanisms in Anode-free Cells: An Industry Perspective ECS Advances batteries – li-ion xray microtomography 3D image processing battery chemistry |
| title | Using X-ray Microscopy to Probe Failure Mechanisms in Anode-free Cells: An Industry Perspective |
| title_full | Using X-ray Microscopy to Probe Failure Mechanisms in Anode-free Cells: An Industry Perspective |
| title_fullStr | Using X-ray Microscopy to Probe Failure Mechanisms in Anode-free Cells: An Industry Perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using X-ray Microscopy to Probe Failure Mechanisms in Anode-free Cells: An Industry Perspective |
| title_short | Using X-ray Microscopy to Probe Failure Mechanisms in Anode-free Cells: An Industry Perspective |
| title_sort | using x ray microscopy to probe failure mechanisms in anode free cells an industry perspective |
| topic | batteries – li-ion xray microtomography 3D image processing battery chemistry |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1149/2754-2734/ad959c |
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