In Operando Noninvasive MRI Monitoring of Electrochemical Processes in Rechargeable Cells

可充电电池是电动汽车或可再生能源储能等应用的变革性技术的核心。对能够在日益苛刻的条件下安全运行的高性能可充电电池电源的需求非常迫切。确定电池单元的充电状态和健康状态以及预计寿命是困难的。该项目将开发一种基于磁共振成像(MRI)的新扫描技术，作为一种坚固可靠的电池无损工具。它可以在设备运行期间以非侵入性的方式检测电池内部材料属性和行为的变化，并提供有关某些电池故障机制的信息，这一事实使其有别于当今使用的技术。对运行过程中器件性能的基础研究将有助于开发新的电池材料，并更快、更准确地评估不同组件的质量，这将是电池科学下一步的关键。在教育影响方面，PI将通过主要与本科院校(PUI)合作，强调本科生研究的机会，重点关注STEM中女性和代表性不足的少数群体。该项目还将通过使用关于在艺术修复中使用化学的磁共振/核磁共振(核磁共振)技术，丰富针对艺术修复项目学生的原创外展计划。本项目的基础研究是基于对锂离子电池(LIBS)电池内部微小感应磁场变化的检测。这项技术也适用于其他细胞化学。这些测量为量化电极锂离子水平和充电期间电池中的电流分布提供了直接联系。该项目将对运行过程中研究电池单元的诊断工具进行基础研究，从而促进下一代电池技术的发展。该项目的目标是：(1)通过非破坏性核磁共振确定电池的磁化率；(2)测量充放电过程中局部和基于成分的磁化率分布；以及(3)通过核磁共振检测电池内的电流分布。该项目的预期结果是一种强大而通用的磁共振成像方法，用于在设备运行期间测试和评估先进的电池化学成分。测量是基于成像磁化率和细胞内的电流分布。这些技术将适用于除这项工作中直接研究的电化学装置之外的广泛范围的电化学装置。该项目成功完成后，该技术将允许在运营中监控电池的充电状态和健康状态，以及一些电池故障模式，从而帮助开发下一代、节能和安全的电池。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Rechargeable batteries lie at the heart of transformative technology for applications such as electric vehicles or energy storage for renewable energy sources. There is a pressing demand for high-performance rechargeable battery power that can operate safely under increasingly stringent conditions. Determining the state of charge and the state of health of a battery cell, as well as the projected lifetime is difficult. This project will develop a new scanning technology, based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as a robust and reliable nondestructive tool for batteries. The fact that it can detect changes in materials' properties and behavior inside batteries in a noninvasive manner during device operation and provide information on certain battery failure mechanisms, sets it apart from the techniques used today. The fundamental study of device properties during operation will enable the development of new cell materials and quicker and more accurate assessment of the qualities of different components, which will be critical for the next step in battery science. For educational impacts, the PI will emphasize opportunities for undergraduate research emphasizing women and underrepresented minorities in STEM by working with Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs). The project will also enrich an original outreach program to students of art restoration programs with the use of the MRI/NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) techniques on the use of chemistry in art restoration. The fundamental research of this project is based on the detection of small induced magnetic field changes within cells in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The technique will work with other cell chemistries as well. These measurements provide a direct link to quantifying electrode lithiation levels and to the current distributions in cells during charging. This project will conduct fundamental research on a diagnostic tool for studying battery cells during operation, and thus will facilitate the development of next-generation battery technology. The project aims are: (1) Determine cell susceptibility through non-destructive MRI; (2) Measurement of localized and component-based susceptibility distributions throughout charging/discharging and (3) Detect current distributions within the cells by MRI. The expected outcome of this project is a robust and versatile MRI methodology for testing and assessing advanced battery chemistries during device operation. The measurements are based on imaging magnetic susceptibility and electrical current distributions inside cells. The techniques will be applicable to a broad range of electrochemical devices beyond the immediate ones studied in this work. Upon successful completion of the project, the technology will allow monitoring in operando the state of charge and state of health of batteries, as well as a number of cell failure modes, and thus aid in the development of next-generation, energy-efficient and safe batteries.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.