How easier, faster analysis super-charges battery research

by Umesh Tiwari, Wednesday, 5th October 2022

Do you remember popping the battery out of your phone to see if it would fix a problem?

Another common habit in the early 2000s was to let your phone (maybe that chunky old Nokia?) completely discharge before charging it up again. If you remember doing those, the chances are you know how far battery research has come in the last 20 years! Performance and efficiency are still top priorities, and today we ask a lot more from our batteries – for example, driving an electric vehicle for hundreds of miles on a single charge, or 3D gaming on your phone in between calls on your lunch break.

High performance for everyday

That’s why maximizing battery lifetimes and charge cycles is key for manufacturers and researchers alike. High performance is only becoming more important as our reliance on batteries grows – and one of the most fundamental determinants of longevity is a battery’s elemental composition.

In the past, it’s been common to rely on techniques like ICP analysis to determine the ratio between elements such as nickel, manganese and cobalt in a battery cathode. Characterizing these elements is vital because they determine the battery’s energy density, as well as the length of a charge cycle and the overall number of cycles it can withstand.

Easier, faster composition analysis

However, ICP analysis can be time-consuming and expensive. The need for gas, such as argon, to generate plasma is a continuous operational cost and the process inevitably produces waste. That’s where X-ray fluorescence (XRF) can provide an alternative. The power of XRF analysis has often been underestimated, especially in the world of battery research and production. But this methodology has a lot to offer, especially in saving time without sacrificing accuracy. At-line XRF instruments, like the Epsilon 4 from Malvern Panalytical, can return results in just 10 minutes – without any need for frequent calibration, sample digestion or extra resources like argon gas. It’s highly accurate, making ICP analysis only necessary for the very lowest elemental concentrations and light elements like Li.

Monitor in-operando when battery is charging

In lithium-ion batteries, another factor in longevity is the rate at which materials in the cathode or anode degenerate. This happens as a result of reactions within the intercalated lithium compound, and the process is often targeted by battery researchers as a good opportunity to improve performance.

X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) is one of the most common methods for studying atomic phase changes like this, and in battery research, this method offers an extra advantage. As a non-destructive method, XRD can be used to monitor battery performance in-operando, giving valuable data on safety and performance. The Empyrean X-ray diffractometer from Malvern Panalytical also offers the option for non-ambient in-operando measurements, giving a full picture of performance across a wide range of battery operating conditions – essential for the diverse research landscape today, in which novel materials are often tested.

Smarter tools for greener batteries

As battery technology continues to grow in importance, batteries offer many possible solutions to modern challenges – including the sustainable storage and transfer of energy. Malvern Panalytical’s XRF and XRD instruments are ideally suited to a range of applications in research, development and manufacture of battery component and cells, including new chemistry electrode materials and other innovations.

But that’s not all – as every industry moves toward greater sustainability, the efficiency gains of a streamlined and less wasteful process can’t be overlooked. As new materials and technologies are still being developed, manufacturers need versatile solutions that prepare them for the future while delivering better results today.

So, to find out how Malvern Panalytical can upgrade your battery research or manufacturing processes, get in touch – just contact us.

Alternatively, check out all our battery solutions here.

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