Operando XRD mapping experiment at ESRF for the FutureCat project

Image credit: Harry Gillions (WMG)

Our Senior Scientist Dr. Stephen Price, with Dr. Ashok Menon and Harry Gillions from collaborator institute WMG, University of Warwick completed a beamtime in May at ESRF.  They set up an operando XRD mapping experiment on multilayer pouch cells fabricated at the WMG battery scale up pilot line to understand their degradation modes.

Stephen has been studying X-ray diffraction computed tomography (XRD-CT) and mapping techniques to provide direct quantification of performance of real world battery operation without the need to extrapolate from model cells. He is looking to devise non-destructive techniques to rapidly benchmark industry-relevant large-format cells, such as those manufactured at WMG, and further develop the operando methods that can be applied to study battery degradation that occur with long-term cycling. These findings can be translated  back to  WMG , and then to the broader industry to build better batteries.

It was great to work with the battery development experts at WMG, combining our knowledge to push the operando imaging capabilities to see inside ever larger and more commercially relevant batteries. ~ Dr. Stephen Price

Finden partnered with University of Sheffield and WMG as part of FutureCat Phase II activities, led by Prof Louis Piper at WMG to work on the Faraday Institution’s collaborative project along with eight other industrial partners, eight other academic partners and two national research facilities. They aim to create the future lithium-ion cathode materials for electric vehicles.

Working with Finden has enabled us to develop spatial mapping of the intercalation reactions in real time in our pilot line pouch cells, which has helped accelerate both active material and cell designs. ~ Prof. Louis Piper