Post-Mortem Analysis of Inhomogeneous Induced Pressure on Commercial Lithium-Ion Pouch Cells and Their Effects

Georg Fuchs, Lisa Willenberg, Florian Ringbeck and Dirk Uwe Sauer
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Georg Fuchs: Chair of Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage Systems, Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives (ISEA), RWTH Aachen University, Jaegerstr. 17/19, 52066 Aachen, Germany
Lisa Willenberg: Chair of Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage Systems, Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives (ISEA), RWTH Aachen University, Jaegerstr. 17/19, 52066 Aachen, Germany
Florian Ringbeck: Chair of Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage Systems, Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives (ISEA), RWTH Aachen University, Jaegerstr. 17/19, 52066 Aachen, Germany
Dirk Uwe Sauer: Chair of Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage Systems, Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives (ISEA), RWTH Aachen University, Jaegerstr. 17/19, 52066 Aachen, Germany

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 23, 1-13

Abstract: This work conducts a post-mortem analysis of a cycled commercial lithium-ion pouch cell under an induced inhomogeneous pressure by using a stainless-steel sphere as a force transmitter to induce an inhomogeneous pressure distribution on a cycled lithium-ion battery. After the cycling, a macroscopic and microscopic optical analysis of the active and passive materials was executed. Also, scanning electron microscopy was used to analyze active material particles. The sphere shape results in a heterogenic pressure distribution on the lithium-ion battery and induces a ring of locally high electrochemical activity, which leads to lithium plating. Furthermore, a surface layer found on the anode, which is a possible cause of electrolyte degradation at the particle–electrolyte interface. Significant deformation and destruction of particles by the local pressure was observed on the cathode. The analysis results validate previous simulations and theories regarding lithium plating on edge effects. These results show that pressure has a strong influence on electrolyte-soaked active materials.

Keywords: inhomogeneous pressure; localized plating; mechanical stress; separator; tortuosity; ICP-OES; scanning electron microscope; lithium-ion battery (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:23:p:6738-:d:291619

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