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Degradation of Lithium Batteries Shown In Real-time (ucl.ac.uk)

Posted by Soulskill on from the what-the-inside-of-your-crappy-cell-phone-battery-looks-like dept.

hypnosec writes: High-Speed Operando Tomography and Digital Volume Correlation have been used by a University College London-led team to show in real-time how lithium batteries degrade as they are used. Real-time 3D images of active, commercial Li/MnO2 disposable batteries were captured using X-ray computed tomography (CT) and advanced digital volume correlation software. The images formed cross-section time-lapse videos showing the damage occurring on the electrodes inside the battery in real-time.

8 of 58 comments (clear)

  1. Sure Jan by Fwipp · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "The images formed cross-section time-lapse videos showing the damage occurring on the electrodes inside the battery in real-time."

    Not sure the editors know what words are.

    1. Re: Sure Jan by viperidaenz · · Score: 2

      Show me a rechargeable battery that will power my smoke alarm for 10 years.

  2. Re:I don't see nuthin' in the video by Dwedit · · Score: 2

    Compare the first frame and the last frame, the white things got smaller.

  3. Can't wait for solid-state batteries by Alwin+Henseler · · Score: 3, Interesting

    That is, until those are commercialized and become affordable for common uses.

    So many issues with today's 'wet' batteries result from having a liquid electrolyte where particles move around, distance between electrodes may very somewhat (locally, at least), substances can dissolve in one place and deposit elsewhere (or form structures that cause a short circuit), electrolyte slowly escapes through a cells' sealing or (potentially) bursts into a cloud of smoke & fire when cell is abused, etc, etc.

    Move to a construction that consists entirely of solid materials, and you get more capacitor-like behavior: vastly increased # of charge/discharge cycles, possible to make much safer, wider temperature range, potentially high capacity and/or power density, short charging times, less degradation when stored in discharged condition, etc. To top it of, perhaps lower cost as well.

    Would be good to have an article about current state of the art in this area.

    1. Re: Can't wait for solid-state batteries by Dereck1701 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Super-capacitors are already extremely reliable and affordable, the problem is they can't really store a whole lot of power at present. They are used in some trucking applications in tandem with standard lead acid batteries. Some also have a minor issue with self discharging, but if their capacity could be brought up to battery levels and that self discharge limited they would likely have a major impact on the battery market. They virtually don't degrade (1 million charge/discharge cycles without degradation have been shown), they can charge very quickly and they are very simple (which should make them cheap).

  4. The real surprise is... by DoofusOfDeath · · Score: 2

    Bombarding Li/ion batteries with CT-scanner x-rays may cause degradation!

  5. Re:I don't see nuthin' in the video by DesertNomad · · Score: 2

    And the black things got bigger - them's the voids and they's bad

  6. Re:I don't see nuthin' in the video by penguinoid · · Score: 2

    Stop! This level of technical jargon is beyond my ken!

    He should ask Barbie for help.

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