
Photo by Ivan Marjanovic / iStock; image designed and provided by Thermo Fisher Scientific
Minimizing safety risks of damaged or decomposing lithium-ion batteries
While lithium-ion batteries offer light weight, high energy density and longer service life than other battery types, the membranes of the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) may decompose or become damaged during storage or recycling. The resulting gas generation can cause the battery to swell, posing safety risks such as thermal runaway, off-gassing, expansion deformation, and more. Understanding the composition of these battery gases is crucial for optimizing electrolyte composition and minimizing these risks.
In this application note, gases produced in a swollen lithium-ion battery are analyzed by combining gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Review complementary results and discover insights beyond what each method could provide alone.