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变革技术的核心。人们迫切需要能够在日益严格的条件下安全运行的高性能可充电电池。确定电池的充电状态和健康状态以及预计寿命是很困难的。该项目将开发一种基于磁共振成像（MRI）的新型扫描技术，作为一种坚固可靠的无损电池工具。事实上，它可以在设备操作过程中以无创的方式检测电池内部材料特性和行为的变化，并提供某些电池故障机制的信息，这使它与目前使用的技术有所不同。对运行过程中设备特性的基础研究将有助于开发新的电池材料，更快、更准确地评估不同组件的质量，这对电池科学的下一步至关重要。在教育影响方面，PI将通过与主要本科院校（PUIs）合作，强调女性和STEM中代表性不足的少数民族的本科研究机会。该项目还将利用核磁共振技术在艺术修复中的化学应用，丰富对艺术修复专业学生的原始推广计划。该项目的基础研究是基于对锂离子电池（LIBs）电池内微小感应磁场变化的检测。这项技术也将适用于其他细胞化学。这些测量提供了一个直接的联系，以量化电极锂化水平和电池充电期间的电流分布。该项目将对研究电池运行过程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。项目目标是：(1)通过非破坏性MRI确定细胞易感性；(2)测量充放电过程中局部和基于组件的敏感性分布；(3)通过MRI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MRI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。这些技术将适用于广泛的电化学装置，而不是本工作所研究的直接装置。在项目成功完成后，该技术将能够实时监测电池的充电状态和健康状态，以及多种电池故障模式，从而有助于开发下一代节能、安全的电池。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值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.