Quality and Safety Assessment of Advanced Batteries

In recent years numerous high profile failures of Li-ion batteries have been reported, contributing to wider concerns about the safety of high energy density cells. Recent work by NPL and UCL has demonstrated a new method for battery failure characterisation using high speed radiography and tomography, which will be further developed in this project to include correlative thermal, calorimetric and acoustic spectroscopy, in order to better understand thermal runaway processes and provide more robust methods for cell qualification. The scientific objectives of the project are:
1. Demonstrate high speed X-ray imaging for a range of failure scenarios (mechanical, electrical, thermal abuse), which can be interpreted through complementary modelling
2. Undertake correlative measurements, e.g. using acoustic and thermal analysis
3. Extend investigations to next generation cells, including Li-S and Na-ion
4. Translate synchrotron capabilities to the laboratory to enable routine quality control metrology
5. Contribute to new international standards for cell qualification and safety