Higher energy and higher use lead to higher risk. While research continues to boost the energy storage capability of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and leads to expanding applications and consumer use, the task of implementing effective safety strategies
falls on regulatory authorities, cell manufacturers, R&D engineers, and forensic scientists. Accurate tests and models are critical for predicting and controlling the complex electrochemical, thermal, and mechanical behavior of LIBs while forensic
investigations and regulations are required. The Battery Safety 2018 conference continues this vital dialogue to integrate and implement LIBs safety to meet ever-increasing energy demands.
Final Agenda
Tuesday, October 30
7:30 am Registration and Morning Coffee
8:30 Organizer’s Welcome
Mary Ann Brown, Executive Director, Conferences, Cambridge EnerTech
8:35 Chairperson’s Opening Remarks
Alexej Jerschow, PhD, Professor, Department of Chemistry, New York University
8:40 FEATURED PRESENTATION: Cross-Platform Analysis to Improve Cell Design for Safety
Boryann Liaw, PhD, Department Manager, Energy
Storage and Advanced Vehicles, Idaho National Laboratory
Idaho National Lab has developed a unique cross-platform analysis approach to decipher cell design limitations to help improve performance and safety aspects. This analytical approach will allow principle-based comparison among performance data and design
parameters to pinpoint deficiencies in design verification or manufacturing processes, so the performance and safety control can be improved. The same approach can also help battery management to analyze data with insight of performance degradation.
9:15 A New Architecture for Safe Lithium-Ion Batteries Using Stable Separators and Unstable Current Collectors
Carl Hu, CTO, Soteria Battery Innovation Group
Here we present new lithium battery architecture in which it is impossible to create a spark. In this architecture, the metal foil current collectors have been replaced with polymer films that are coated with just enough metal to enable the battery to
work, but not enough to create a spark. If a short occurs, the high current density causes the metal to burn out in microseconds, before enough heat is generated to light the cell on fire. In addition, the plastic separator is replaced with a thermally
stable separator that, even if a short occurs, will never melt or shrink, isolating the short. There are two additional advantages: cost and weight.
9:45 Mechanically Triggered Battery Safety Mechanisms
Yu Qiao, PhD, Professor, Program of Materials Science and Engineering,
University of California, San Diego
Without changing battery chemistry, by modifying current collectors, fracture mode of electrodes in a lithium-ion battery can be favorably adjusted to mitigate thermal runaway. Impact tests on pouch cells showed encouraging results.
10:15 Networking Coffee Break
10:45 Instrumented Commercial Lithium Batteries
Rohit Bhagat, PhD, FIMMM, Associate Professor,
Head, Electrochemical Engineering Group, International Automotive Research Centre, WMG, University of Warwick
This presentation focuses on utilisation of embedded reference electrodes, fibre optics and sensors within commercial 18650 lithium-ion cells. These instrumented cells are then used to conduct in operando investigations
of lithium battery safety by giving real-time information on the internal state of the battery.
11:15 Interface and Interphase in Solid and Liquid Electrolyte Li-Ion Batteries
Chunsheng Wang, PhD, Professor, Department
of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Maryland
Li-ion batteries are the critical enabling technology for portable devices, electric vehicles (EV), and renewable energy. However, the safety of current batteries still needs to be improved to satisfy these requirements. We systematically investigated
the electrochemical stability window of the electrolytes, interface/interphase stability and resistance between electrodes and electrolytes, and reversibility and robustness of the cells using these electrolytes. The critical issues limiting these
safe electrolytes will be discussed.
11:45 Enjoy Lunch on Your Own
2:00 pm Chairperson’s Remarks
Kem M. Obasih, PhD, PE, Technical Leader - Thermal, Engineering Modeling & Simulation, Johnson Controls Advanced Power Solutions
2:05 Battery Characterization and SOC/SOH Estimation
Saeid Habibi, PhD, Director, Centre for Mechatronics
and Hybrid Technologies (CMHT); Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, McMaster University
To optimize battery operation, it is important to monitor and estimate its State-of-Health (SOH) and State-of-Charge (SOC). These however cannot be directly measured, and need to be estimated. Model-based state and parameter estimation techniques are
commonly used in SOC estimation, and are essential tools for information extraction. This presentation considers advanced testing strategies that could be used for characterization and modeling of batteries for SOC estimation.
2:35 State of Charge and State of Health Estimation Using Electrochemical Acoustic Time of Flight Analysis
Daniel Steingart, PhD, Associate
Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University
3:05 Non-Destructive Diagnostics of Battery Cells by MRI
Alexej Jerschow, PhD, Professor, Department
of Chemistry, New York University
We are presenting battery assessment technology based on non-destructive Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques. The approach works on intact, commercial rechargeable batteries (for example, Li-ion batteries) – no need to take the batteries
apart. Moreover, the technique is fast, can detect changes in the electrode chemistry that occur as the battery is charged and discharged, or if it is damaged. The vision is to use a benchtop-type instrument, which could be deployed in a variety of
ways. The aim is to improve safety and performance, and help predict battery life.
3:35 Networking Refreshment Break
3:50 Fatigue Life Prediction of a 12V Dual Li-Ion Battery in Vehicles
Kem M. Obasih, PhD, PE, Technical Leader - Thermal,
Engineering Modeling & Simulation, Johnson Controls Advanced Power Solutions
Product durability and fatigue life must be evaluated by simulation and tests. Battery cyclic charges and discharges create thermal strains and stresses. Vibrational stresses occur during motive discharge. These cyclic thermal and vibrational stresses
reduce the battery mechanical life. In this study, a prediction methodology is developed to predict battery fatigue life and the structural health of the battery systems.
4:20 Increasing Safety and Lifetime of Lithium-Ion Batteries by Understanding the Impact of Vibrations and Resonances
Philipp Berg, MSc, Research Associate, Department
of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Technical University of Munich (TUM)
Safety is a big concern in lithium-ion battery research, but despite the huge number of publications about crash safety, for example, little research is published about the impact of vibrations. Therefore a three-column approach is chosen, based on structural
dynamics characterization by modal analysis, real-world load profile testing and simulation to understand the unknown impact of vibrations on lifetime and safety of lithium-ion batteries. The preceding characterization has proven to be valuable, as
for example high dependencies of structural dynamics on temperature and load level could be detected. The talk introduces the chosen method, how the characterization method enables us to make better design of experiments for load profile testing and
the subsequent findings and results.
4:50 Selected Poster Presentation: Mechanical Failure of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Wei Li, Research Scientist, State Key Lab of Automotive Safety and Energy, Department of Automotive Engineering, Tsinghua University
5:20 Close of Day and Dinner Workshop Registration
5:30 - 8:30 Dinner Workshop*
W1: How to Qualify Your Batteries to Prevent Failures & Thermal Events
Instructor: Vidyu Challa, PhD, Technical Director, DfR Solutions
In this battery workshop, you:
- Gain an understanding of lithium-ion battery failure mechanisms and the pathway to thermal runaway events
- Learn about the top causes of battery field failures, and the major areas where you need to have mitigation strategies
- Learn how cell design plays a critical role in battery safety and reliability, and what you can do from a design perspective to prevent these failures
- Learn the basic steps in a lithium-ion cell manufacturing process, and the process controls required to ensure cell safety and reliability
- Learn about the battery management system and its role in system safety
- Come away with a checklist of things you should do to qualify your cell manufacturer – pass down requirements, trust but verify (design, manufacturing, compliance-based testing, system-level tolerances, application-specific battery testing,
battery management system, cell CT scans and teardowns and lastly user education)
*Separate registration required.
Wednesday, October 31
8:00 - 9:00 am Battery Breakfast Breakout Discussion Groups - View Breakout Discussion Details
Grab coffee and breakfast and join a discussion group. These are moderated discussions with brainstorming and interactive problem solving, allowing conference participants from diverse backgrounds to exchange ideas and experiences and develop future collaborations
around a focused topic.
9:15 Chairperson’s Remarks
Judith Jeevarajan, PhD, Research Director, Electrochemical Safety, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.
9:20 Study of Structural Degradation Mechanisms in Lithium-Ion Battery Materials Using Multi-Length Scale and Electron Microscopy-Based Techniques
Alpesh Khushalchand Shukla, PhD, Senior
Scientific Engineering Associate, National Center of Electron Microscopy, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Macroscopic degradation of cathode materials in lithium-ion batteries often starts with microscopic changes and it is important to study cycled cathode materials at the atomic level. In this talk, I demonstrate how use of multiple electron probe-based
techniques such as 4DSTEM nanodiffraction mapping, electron energy loss spectroscopy, X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy and high-angle annular dark-field imaging using scanning transmission electron microscopy were indispensable in understanding
phase transformations in nickel-rich NMC materials that are responsible for the loss of capacity and reduced cycle life of batteries. High spatial resolution electron microscopy study of primary particles was complemented with 3D-focused ion beam
serial sectioning of secondary particles that revealed separation of primary particles due to cycling.
9:50 Understanding Battery Reactions via Real-Time Electron Microscopy
Reza Shahbazian-Yassar,
PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago
This talk gives an overview on how transmission electron microscopy technique can provide insight about the charge storage mechanisms in Li-ion battery materials. In particular, we study the lithium storage mechanisms in SnO2, phosphorene, MoS2, and
MnO2 materials.
10:20 Selected Poster Presentation: Modeling and Simulation of Li Dendrite Formation Considering the Solid Electrolyte Interface (SEI) Influence
Vitaliy Yurkiv, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Energy Storage and Conversion Modeling Group, University of Illinois at Chicago
10:35 Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
11:15 Non-Destructively Locating Internal Short Spots in Lithium-Ion Batteries by Subsurface Electric Current Imaging
Kazuhiro Suzuki, PhD, Engineer,
Evaluation and Analysis Technology Center, Toshiba Nanoanalysis Corporation
A traditional method such as lock-in thermography is inappropriate for locating internal electric short spots in lithium-ion batteries because they are covered with metallic electrodes. We here demonstrate a novel method to non-destructively visualize
subsurface electric currents and locate internal short spots in lithium-ion batteries. Current images are computed from magnetic field distributions obtained with a magnetic field microscope.
11:45 The Hidden Danger of E-Cigarettes
Yinjiao Laura Xing, PhD, Post-Doctoral Research
Associate, Center for Advanced Life Cycle Engineering (CALCE), University of Maryland
12:15 pm Enjoy Lunch on Your Own
1:45 Chairperson’s Remarks
Nancy Dudney, PhD, Group Leader and Corporate Fellow, Material Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
1:50 Measuring Influences on the Results of Nail Penetration Tests - Method Optimization and Impacts
Stefan Doose, Research Associate, Battery
Process Engineering, Technische Universität Braunschweig
In this study a new test method with a low standard deviation is implemented and influencing parameters – e.g., the nail material, isolation material, and tension – are investigated with regard to their impact on the thermal runaway of
lithium-ion batteries. Trends and differences of voltage drops as well as resulting heat and gas formation are shown and discussed.
2:20 Thermal Runaway Propagation Studies for Lithium-Ion Cells
Judith Jeevarajan, PhD, Research
Director, Electrochemical Safety, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.
The presentation covers tests that have been carried out based on the ICAO/SAE G27 packaging standard to determine safety of lithium cell and battery packages as packaged for shipment. The tests included triggering cells at two different states of
charge and characterizing propagation. Trigger cell locations within a package were varied and included the center, corner and side wall locations to understand and characterize propagation based on location of trigger.
2:50 Combining Fractional Calorimetry with Statistical Methods to Characterize Thermal Runaway
William Q. Walker, PhD, Aerospace Technologist,
Engineering Directorate (EA), Structural Engineering Division (ES), Thermal Design Branch (ES3), NASA Johnson Space Center
Thermal management systems designed to handle the impacts of thermal runaway (TR) are key to safe operation of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. Critical factors for optimizing these systems include the total energy released and the fraction of the
total energy that is released through the cell casing versus through the ejecta material. A unique calorimeter, designed to characterize said factors, was utilized to examine the TR behavior of a variety of 18650-format Li-ion cells. Statistical
methods were implemented to interpret the data.
3:20 Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
4:00 Thermal Response and Chemical Kinetic Feature of Li-Ion Battery Thermal Runaway
Peng Zhao, PhD, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering,
Oakland University
A 3D computational study has been conducted to identify the critical state for Li-ion battery thermal runaway and the roles of heat source intensity, duration time, heat source size and battery thermal chemical properties during process. Heat release
rate during internal short circuit is modeled using detailed electrochemistry, aiming to establish a fundamental-based comprehensive model for thermal runaway.
4:30 Evaluating the Impact of Initiation Methods on Propagating Thermal Runaway in Lithium-Ion Batteries
Joshua Lamb, PhD, Principal Member, Technical
Staff, Advanced Power Sources R&D, Sandia National Laboratories
Despite interest in failure propagation testing, there is currently uncertainty surrounding how the method of thermal runaway initiation might impact the result. This work examines different abusive battery tests used to initiate single cell runaway
within small strings of cells to better understand what factors are critical to the final results of a failure propagation test.
5:00 Battery Electrodes Designed to Improve Safety upon Collision or Impact
Nancy Dudney, PhD, Group Leader and Corporate
Fellow, Material Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Battery electrodes are fabricated so that large electrodes readily break into small pieces upon impact or severe deformation. This limits the current and heating at sites of internal short circuits, avoiding thermal runaway. The undamaged areas of
the battery continue to cycle. While we used slits to direct breaking of the electrodes, other materials and designs may achieve similar performance.
5:00 Registration for Post-Incident Forensics & Investigations Symposium and Lithium Battery Materials & Chemistries Conference
5:30 Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
6:30 Close of Battery Safety Conference