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Microstructural Analysis of the Effects of Thermal Runaway on Li-Ion and Na-Ion Battery Electrodes

Journal Article · · Journal of Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4038518· OSTI ID:1416719
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [2];  [2]
  1. Univ. College London, London (United Kingdom); National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
  2. Univ. College London, London (United Kingdom)
  3. Sharp Labs of Europe, Oxfordshire (United Kingdom)
  4. Sharp Labs of Europe, Oxfordshire (United Kingdom); Univ. College London, London (United Kingdom); Univ. of Warwick, Coventry (United Kingdom)
+ Show Author Affiliations
Thermal runaway is a phenomenon that occurs due to self-sustaining reactions within batteries at elevated temperatures resulting in catastrophic failure. Here, the thermal runaway process is studied for a Li-ion and Na-ion pouch cells of similar energy density (10.5 Wh, 12 Wh, respectively) using accelerating rate calorimetry (ARC). Both cells were constructed with a z-fold configuration, with a standard shutdown separator in the Li-ion and a low-cost polypropylene (PP) separator in the Na-ion. Even with the shutdown separator, it is shown that the self-heating rate and rate of thermal runaway in Na-ion cells is significantly slower than that observed in Li-ion systems. The thermal runaway event initiates at a higher temperature in Na-ion cells. The effect of thermal runaway on the architecture of the cells is examined using X-ray microcomputed tomography, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is used to examine the failed electrodes of both cells. In conclusion, from examination of the respective electrodes, likely due to the carbonate solvent containing electrolyte, it is suggested that thermal runaway in Na-ion batteries (NIBs) occurs via a similar mechanism to that reported for Li-ion cells.
Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1416719
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA--5400-70768
Journal Information:
Journal of Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage, Journal Name: Journal of Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 15; ISSN 2381-6872
Publisher:
ASMECopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (2)

Spatially resolved ultrasound diagnostics of Li-ion battery electrodes journal January 2019
Virtual unrolling of spirally-wound lithium-ion cells for correlative degradation studies and predictive fault detection journal January 2019

Figures / Tables (10)

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Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
computerized tomography
electric batteries
electrodes
electrolytes
ions
lithium
lithium compounds
polypropylenes
scanning electron microscopy
separators
sodium compounds