Journal Article

Identifying the Cause of Rupture of Li‐Ion Batteries during Thermal Runaway

Tjaden, Bernhard, Heenan, Thomas M. M., Rack, Alexander, Shearing, Paul R., Di Michiel, Marco, Hinds, Gareth, Darcy, Eric, Keyser, Matthew, Vo, Nghia T., Finegan, Donal P., Jervis, Rhodri, Brett, Dan J. L., Drakopoulos, Michael, Magdysyuk, Oxana V., Bailey, Josh J.

2018

Overview

As the energy density of lithium‐ion cells and batteries increases, controlling the outcomes of thermal runaway becomes more challenging. If the high rate of gas generation during thermal runaway is not adequately vented, commercial cell designs can rupture and explode, presenting serious safety concerns. Here, ultra‐high‐speed synchrotron X‐ray imaging is used at >20 000 frames per second to characterize the venting processes of six different 18650 cell designs undergoing thermal runaway. For the first time, the mechanisms that lead to the most catastrophic type of cell failure, rupture, and explosion are identified and elucidated in detail. The practical application of the technique is highlighted by evaluating a novel 18650 cell design with a second vent at the base, which is shown to avoid the critical stages that lead to rupture. The insights yielded in this study shed new light on battery failure and are expected to guide the development of safer commercial cell designs. Thermal runaway of 18650 lithium‐ion cells can result in a wide range of failure mechanisms, from controlled release of gases to catastrophic bursting and generation of projectiles. Here, the structural dynamics associated with venting and rupture of five different commercial 18650 cell designs are captured and explored using high‐speed X‐ray imaging at up to 20 272 frames per second.

• Publisher: Wiley Open Access,Wiley,John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subject: ENERGY STORAGE / ENGINEERING / high-speed imaging / Li-ion batteries / Physics / thermal runaway / venting / X-ray CT