A comparison of methodologies for the non-invasive characterisation of commercial Li-ion cells

doi:10.1016/j.pecs.2019.01.001

Progress in Energy and Combustion Science

Volume 72, May 2019, Pages 1-31

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2019.01.001 Get rights and content

Under a Creative Commons license

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Abstract

Lithium-ion cells currently power almost all electronic devices and power tools; they are a key enabling technology for electric vehicles and are increasingly considered to be the technology of choice for grid storage. In line with this increased applicability, there is also an increase in the development of new commercial lithium-ion cell technologies that incorporate innovative functional components (electrode material compositions and electrolyte formulations) and designs, leading to a diverse range of performance characteristics. The uniqueness of each technology in-turn gives rise to unique evolutions of cell performance as the cell degrades because of usage. Non-destructively measuring and subsequently tracking the evolution of lithium-ion cell characteristics is valuable for both industrial engineers and academic researchers. To proceed in this regard, stakeholders have often devised their own procedures for characterising lithium-ion cells, typically without considering unification, comparability or compatibility. This makes the comparison of technologies complicated. This comprehensive review for the first time has analysed and discusses the various international standards and regulations for the characterisation and electrical testing of lithium-ion cells, specifically for high-power automotive and grid applications.

Keywords

Battery testing

Internal resistance

EIS

GITT

Incremental capacity

Differential voltage

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Dr Anup Barai (PhD, Energy Storage System, University of Warwick), is an energy storage system test and characterisation expert, with specializing in automotive and grid linked energy storage systems. Since joining WMG in 2011, Dr Barai have established a successful research theme in the area of developing methodologies for next generation characterisation of energy storage system for transport and stationary applications. Dr Barai deliver research, which has tangible impact on industrial and academic researcher's success, making fundamental changes in the way energy storage systems are characterised. Dr Barai as PI and Co-I previously led research projects funded by the ‘Research Development Fund’ at the University of Warwick and the UK Department of Transport. In the past, he delivered multiple commercial research packages and authored high impact journal articles in the area of lithium-ion battery characterisation. Dr Barai currently lead energy storage characterisation related research within the energy innovation centre (EIC) at WMG, University of Warwick.

Kotub Uddin is Head of Research at OVO Energy. He leads the identification and integration of exploratory academic research into the development of commercial products. He also leads OVO Energy's electrochemical energy storage strategy and guides the development of smart control strategies for energy storage devices.

Kotub joined OVO Energy in February 2018, previously leading research on energy storage technologies at WMG, University of Warwick. He has nearly 10 years’ experience in collaborative research specialising in the application of electrochemical energy storage technologies for low carbon transport and power-grid decarbonisation which ranges from mathematical modelling and fundamental science to systems engineering and experimental validation. He has published over 20 peer-reviewed articles and led a wide portfolio of collaborative research projects funded by EPSRC, Innovate UK and Industry. These projects have been underpinned by significant industrial and academic collaboration with leading UK and International organisations (e.g. JLR, ATKearney, Honda, AVL, Peel Group, eCar Club, Arrival, Cenex). Before the University of Warwick, Kotub held a Visiting Research Fellow position at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College (2013–2016). In industry, he was a Senior Research Engineer at Jaguar Land Rover (2009–2012) and Principal Technical Consultant in alternative fuels at Ricardo Energy and Environment (2015–2016).

Matthieu Dubarry (PhD, Electrochemistry & Solid State Science, University of Nantes), has over 15 years of experience in renewable energy, with an emphasis in the area of lithium ion batteries. Following his PhD on the synthesis and characterization of materials for lithium batteries, Dr. Dubarry joined the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa as a post-doctoral fellow in 2005 to work on the analysis of the usage of a fleet of electric vehicles. He was later appointed a faculty position in 2010 with a focus on battery testing, modeling and simulation. While working for HNEI, Dr. Dubarry pioneered the use of new techniques for the analysis of the degradation of Li-ion cells and developed numerous software tools facilitating the prognosis of Li-ion battery degradation both at the single cell and the battery pack level. Current projects include the evaluation of grid scale Li-ion battery energy storage systems; the evaluation of the impact of vehicle-to-grid strategies on electric vehicle battery pack degradation; and the testing of emerging battery technologies for grid-connected and transportation applications.

Dr Limhi Somerville is currently the Advanced Cell Design Manager at Jaguar Land Rover, having also worked as a lithium-ion cell specialist. He previously worked at Argonne National Laboratory looking into methods of materials and electrical characterisation of lithium-ion cells for lifetime determination. His doctorate, completed at The University of Warwick was on the same topic and he also holds a Masters of Science degree in Innovation from The University of Warwick and a Bachelors of Science degree in Chemistry from Bangor University.

Andrew McGordon Andrew joined WMG in May 2005 working on the Premium Automotive Research and Development Hybrid Vehicle projects and developed the hybrid powertrain simulation tool, WARPSTAR. Andrew is currently a Principal Engineer in the Energy Storage and Management group at WMG, working on energy storage, vehicle modelling and battery ageing. He currently supervises research students working on vehicle energy management strategies, autonomous vehicle path planning techniques and battery performance in different duty cycles.

Paul Jennings received a BA degree in physics from the University of Oxford in 1985 and an Engineering Doctorate from the University of Warwick in 1996. Since 1988 he has worked on industry-focused research for WMG at the University of Warwick. His current interests include: vehicle electrification, in particular energy management and storage; connected and autonomous vehicles, in particular the evaluation of their dependability; and user engagement in product and environment design, with a particular focus on automotive applications.

Ira Bloom (PhD, Inorganic Chemistry, University of Chicago) has over 30 years of experience in electrochemical energy conversion devices, with an emphasis lately on lithium-ion batteries. Following his doctoral work on the synthesis and characterization of organometallic compounds, Dr. Bloom join Argonne National Laboratory as a post-doctoral fellow to work on homogeneous catalysis. He later joined the Argonne faculty in 1984 with an emphasis on glass electrolytes for high-temperature, sodium-ion batteries. While at Argonne, Dr. Bloom developed new techniques and software for the characterization of battery degradation. These methods were transparent to battery technology and to battery scale (cell and pack). His current interests are the investigation of battery degradation mechanisms, battery testing, and post-test analysis of aged battery materials.