Battery Safety

Battery Safety

Safety of Aged Cells vs. Fresh Cells Commercial NCA, NMC and LFP cells were comprehensively assessed to understand how the reactivity of cells in the presence and absence of lithium plating - induced by cycle aging at 0 °C & 45 °C, respectively - affected the results of safety testing methods: mechanical (nail penetration, crush), electrical (overcharge, overdischarge), and thermal (accelerating rate calorimetry or ARC) abuse tests. Their findings emphasize the need to examine aged battery safety across diverse empirical techniques, degradation modes, and chemistries. (with plating)

(with plating)

(without plating) (without plating)

Aged cells with dominant Li plating exhibit decreased safety behavior, while those with dominant SEI growth behave similar to uncycled cells, with the exception of having a higher likelihood of causing Hazard Level 7 (unhindered venting of gases during thermal runaway). Source: 1 Y. Preger et al., Journal of the Electrochemical Society 2025, 2 G. G. Gerosa et al., Journal of the Electrochemical Society 2025, 3 D. Stiller et al., Journal of Power Sources 2025

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