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Multi-scale thermal stability study of commercial lithium-ion batteries as a function of cathode chemistry and state-of-charge

Journal Article · · Journal of Power Sources
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
  2. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
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This paper takes a critical look at the materials aspects of thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries and correlates contributions from individual cell components to thermal runaway trends. An accelerating rate calorimeter (ARC) was used to evaluate commercial lithium-ion cells based on LiCoO2 (LCO), LiFePO4 (LFP), and LiNixCoyAl1-x-yO2 (NCA) at various states of charge (SOC). Cells were disassembled and the component properties were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and temperature-resolved X-ray diffraction (TR-XRD). The whole cell thermal runaway onset temperature decreases and peak heating rate increases with SOC due to cathode destabilization. LCO and NCA cathodes are metastable, with NCA cells exhibiting the highest thermal runaway rates. By contrast, the LFP cathode is stable to >500 °C, even when charged. For anodes, the decomposition and whole cell self-heating onset temperature is generally independent of SOC. DSC exotherm onset temperatures of the anodes were generally within 10 °C of the onset of self-heating in whole cell ARC. Furthermore, onset temperatures of the cathodes were typically observed above the ARC onset of whole cell runaway. This systematic evaluation of component to whole cell degradation provides a scientific basis for future thermal modeling and design of safer cells.
Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Electricity (OE); USDOE Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE)
Grant/Contract Number:
89233218CNA000001; AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
1559489
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1645962
OSTI ID: 1571605
OSTI ID: 1693521
Report Number(s):
LA-UR--19-29649; SAND--2019-7237J; 676803
Journal Information:
Journal of Power Sources, Journal Name: Journal of Power Sources Journal Issue: C Vol. 435; ISSN 0378-7753
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (1)

Extended theoretical analysis of crystallisation kinetics being studied by in situ XRD journal December 2019

Figures / Tables (9)

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