This study investigates the dependency of the internal processes of Li-ion batteries on operating conditions, cycling life, and mechanical damage. Li-ion Batteries are the preferred energy storage solution for many applications, including cell phones and electric vehicles. However, they can pose serious hazards if their safety is compromised, such as after sustaining mechanical damage. An example of such loadings is an electric vehicle crash or a drone's impact landing. Prior work has shown that mechanical damage to the battery may not affect its voltage, capacity, or other primary specifications. Currently, there is no reliable method to check the integrity of battery cells inside an electric vehicle battery pack once it has been subjected to a shock or impact. Here, we report a novel method to determine the time constants and polarizations of the main internal processes of Li-ion cells from their impedance spectra and investigate the effect of mechanical damage and aging on them. We formulate a distribution function of relaxation times to deconvolute the measured impedance spectra to achieve this goal. Our formulation is based on representing the battery dynamics via basis functions formed using a series of passive electrical elements consisting of inductors, resistors, and capacitors. We used a ridge regression optimization to determine the optimal number of elements and their values to represent the battery dynamics in the measured frequency range. We divided the samples into a control (intact) group and a test group, which went through controlled mechanical damage. We cycled the batteries and collected their impedance spectra at various temperatures and state-of-charge (SOC) levels. The experiments were conducted on LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) and NMC811 (80% nickel, 10% manganese, and 10% of cobalt in the active cathode material) cells, which are two main types of batteries used in commercial electric vehicles. After deconvoluting the impedance spectra using our formulation and criteria, we identified four peaks in the low- and medium-range frequencies related to diffusion, charge transfer, and solid electrolyte interface, as well as peaks in the high-frequency region related to contact resistances and ionic conductivity through the electrolyte and separator pores. We used the dependency of the peaks on the SOC level and temperatures to assign them to these processes. We represented each process with representative time constants defined as the local maxima of the peak and the area under the curve as the polarization of the process. We showed that the mechanically damaged cells have substantially different high-frequency time constant characteristics than the control group. Further, using our proposed approach, we studied the ability to identify degradation mechanisms during the aging process of a cell at different temperatures and states of charge. For LFP cells, the representative time constants remained almost unchanged during mechanical damage. However, the high-frequency peak height dropped by more than 36% during indentation, compared to less than 2.5% change in the control group. For NMC811 cells, the time constant of the high-frequency peak increased slightly with increased mechanical loading, and the associated peak height dropped by more than 12.9% during indentation and more than 17.8% during three-point bending. For the NMC811 cells, the average activation energy for charge transfer was 62 kJ/mol, while the activation energy for SEI was 49 kJ/mol. These values confirmed the physical relevance of the assigned peaks by verifying them with reported values in the literature. Finally, we analyzed the trend of changes in the impedance spectra (showed as EIS- Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy) collected during battery cycling at 0% and 100% SOC for NMC811 cells. The time constant of charge transfer increased significantly with aging, while the time constants of SEI and contact resistance increased slightly, and the high-frequency peaks remained almost constant. Polarization analyses showed significant increases with aging: the polarization of contact resistance, SEI, and charge transfer increased by 2.06, 2.36, and 2.24 times from cycle number 40 to 280 at 0% SOC, and by 1.86, 2.65, and 11.95 times at 100% SOC. Ohmic resistance increased slightly at both 0% and 100% SOC from cycle number 40 to 280. These results align with the observed linear degradation phase, where cells experienced a 4.8% capacity fade until cycle 280. We investigated the contribution of each degradation mode to changes in time constant and polarization of internal processes and degradation mechanisms based on aging stress factors, including large Depth of Discharge, low and high SOC, and a large number of cycles. This research demonstrated the effectiveness of our suggested DRT method in studying the effects of temperature, SOC, aging, and mechanical damage on the internal processes of LFP and NMC811 cells. This non-invasive method can detect hazardous mechanical damage in batteries, making it useful for applications such as electric vehicles after a crash or drones after impact landings. The aging results highlighted the potential of this approach for evaluating changes in the internal processes and degradation mechanisms caused by aging, which is essential for efficient battery management systems and estimating battery state of health. This method can also be used to diagnose battery safety in second-life applications, such as grid energy storage. / Mechanical Engineering

Polypyrrol (PPy) ist ein typischer Vertreter der intrinsisch leitfähigen Polymere und wird auf zahlreichen Gebieten, wie Analytik, Korrosionsschutz oder Elektrotechnik angewendet. Dabei nutzt man die elektronische Schaltbarkeit, die Stabilität und die gute Oxidierbarkeit sowie die Wasserlöslichkeit der Monomere aus. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde der Einfluss verschiedener Parameter, wie Temperatur, Monomerkonzentration und Leitsalz, auf die elektrochemische Polymerisation von Pyrrol untersucht. Des Weiteren sollte die Wirkung eines statischen Magnetfeldes auf die Synthese und das Ionenaustauschverhalten überprüft werden. Als Messverfahren kamen die elektrochemische Quarzmikrowaage (EQCM) und die elektrochemische Impedanzspektroskopie (EIS) zum Einsatz. Bei der Auswertung der EQCM-Daten wurde ein von Efimov entwickeltes mathematisches Modell zur Bestimmung des komplexen Schermoduls angewendet. Dadurch war eine in situ Verfolgung der viskoelastischen Eigenschaften während der Abscheidung und des Ionenaustausches möglich. Um den hydrodynamischen Einfluss auf die Synthese von PPy zu untersuchen, wurden Messungen an einer rotierenden Scheibenelektrode durchgeführt. Die daraus gewonnenen Erkenntnisse vermittelten eine Vorstellung, wie sich eine durch den magnetohydrodynamischen Effekt hervorgerufene Rührung auf die Grenzströme der potentiostatischen Abscheidung verschiedener PPy|Leitsalz Systeme auswirkt. Ferner ist die Abscheidung von PPy aus Phosphorsäure betrachtet worden, da diese Schichten eine Relevanz für den Korrosionsschutz besitzen.

Molten Carbonate Fuel cells are high temperature fuel cells suitable for distributed generation and combined heat and power, and are today being installed on commercial basis in sizes from 100kW to several MW. Novel applications for MCFC which have attracted interest lately are MCFC used for CO2 separation from combustion flue gas, and high temperature electrolysis with reversible fuel cells. In the first application, the intrinsic capability of the MCFC to concentrate CO2 from the cathode to the anode side through the cell reaction is utilized. In the second application, the high operating temperature and relatively simple design of the MCFC is utilized in electrolysis, with the aim to produce a syngas mix which can be further processed into hydrogen of synthetic fuels. In this thesis, the effect on fuel cell performance of operating a small lab-scale molten carbonate fuel cell in conditions which simulate those that would apply if the fuel cell was used for CO2 separation in combustion flue gas was studied. Such operating conditions are characterized especially by a low CO2 concentration at the cathode compared to normal operating conditions. Sulfur contaminants in fuel gas, especially H2S, are known poisoning agents which cause premature degradation of the MCFC. Furthermore, combustion flue gas often contains sulfur dioxide which, if entering the cathode, causes performance degradation by corrosion and by poisoning of the fuel cell. This makes poisoning by sulfur contaminants of great concern for MCFC development. In this thesis, the effect of sulfur contaminants at both anode and cathode on fuel cell degradation was evaluated in both normal and in low CO2 simulated flue gas conditions.      The results suggested that the poisoning effect of SO2 at the cathode is similar to that of H2S at the anode, and that it is possibly due to a transfer of sulfur from cathode to anode. Furthermore, in combination with low CO2 conditions at the cathode, SO2 contaminants cause fuel cell poisoning and electrolyte degradation, causing high internal resistance. By using a small lab-scale MCFC with commercial materials and standard fuel cell operating conditions, the reversible MCFC was demonstrated to be feasible. The electrochemical performance was investigated in both fuel cell (MCFC) and electrolysis cell (MCEC) modes. The separate electrodes were studied in fuel cell and electrolysis modes under different operating conditions. It was shown that the fuel cell exhibited lower polarization in MCEC mode than in MCFC mode, and a high CO2 concentration at the fuel cell anode reduced the polarization in electrolysis mode, which suggested that CO2 is reduced to produce CO or carbonate. / Smältkarbonatbränsleceller (MCFC) är en typ av högtemperaturbränsleceller som är anpassade för kombinerad el- och värmeproduktion i mellan-till stor skala. Idag installeras MCFC på kommersiell basis i storlekar mellan 100kW och flera MW. En ny typ av tillämpning för MCFC som har väckt intresse på senare tid är användandet av MCFC för CO2-avskiljning i kombination med konventionell elproduktion genom förbränning. En annan ny tillämpning är högtemperaturelektrolys genom användandet av reversibla bränsleceller. I det första fallet utnyttjas att CO2 kan koncentreras från katod- till anodsidan, vilket sker genom cellreaktionen för MCFC. I det andra fallet utnyttjas den höga arbetstemperaturen och den relativt enkla cell-designen för att använda reversibla MCFC till elektrolys, med syfte att producera en syngas-blandning som kan förädlas till vätgas eller till syntetiskt bränsle. I denna avhandling studeras effekten på bränslecellens prestanda genom att operera en MCFC i lab-skala med driftförhållanden som simulerar de som förväntas uppkomma om bränslecellen användes för CO2-avskiljning ur rökgaser från förbränning. Dessa driftförhållanden karaktäriseras av låg CO2-koncentration på katodsidan jämfört med normal drift. Svavelföroreningar i bränsle, speciellt H2S, är kända för att orsaka förgiftning av anoden, vilket i sin tur försämrar bränslecellens prestanda. Dessutom innehåller rökgaser ofta SO2, vilket antas orsaka korrosion och förgiftning av katoden. Detta gör effekten av svavelföroreningar till ett prioriterat ämne för utvecklingen av MCFC. I denna avhandling undersöks effekten av svavelföroreningar på både anod- och katodsidan, i normala driftförhållanden och i förhållanden med låg CO2 som simulerar användandet av rökgaser för CO2-avskiljning. Resultaten tyder på att effekten av förgiftning med SO2 på katoden liknar den med H2S på anoden, och att detta kan vara orsakat av en transport av svavel från katod till anod. Vidare, i kombination med låg CO2 koncentration på katoden så orsakar SO2-föroreningar elektrolytdegradering, vilket orsakar hög inre resistans. Genom att använda en liten MCFC i lab-skala med kommersiella material och standardförhållanden för MCFC påvisades att reversibla smältkarbonatbränsleceller kan vara ett lovande koncept. Den elektrokemiska prestandan av både cell och separata elektroder undersöktes både som bränslecell (MCFC)och vid elektrolys (MCEC). Resultaten visade att cellen uppvisade lägre polarisation vid elektrolys än som bränslecell, och att ten hög CO2-koncentration på det som är bränslecellens anodsida gav upphov till en minskad elektrodpolarisation, vilket indikerar att CO2 reduceras för att producera CO eller karbonat. / <p>QC 20141028</p>

Le Titane (Ti) est un matériau biocompatible largement utilisé dans le domaine biomédical, notamment pour les implants orthopédiques (prothèse de hanche ou du genou par exemple). Il se distingue plus particulièrement par son excellente résistance à la corrosion et sa capacité d’ostéo-intégration. Cependant, une surface plane de Ti n’est pas assez bioactive pour être implantée ; il est nécessaire d’avoir recours à un traitement de surface pour améliorer ses propriétés. La modification de la surface du titane par anodisation permet la synthèse de nanotubes (NTs) de TiO2 ordonnés et verticalement alignés. Cette technique, peu couteuse, rapide et facile à mettre en œuvre permet également de contrôler finement la morphologie des NTs (diamètre, longueur, aspect des parois…). De plus, les NTs étant amorphes après anodisation, la structure cristalline peut être ajustée par un traitement thermique, conduisant à une structure anatase (450°C) ou à une structure mixte d’anatase et de rutile (550°C).Ainsi, des surfaces de différentes morphologies et différentes structures cristallines ont été synthétisées dans ce travail de thèse, afin d’évaluer l’influence des caractéristiques morpho-structurelles sur la résistance à la corrosion en milieu physiologique et sur la bioactivité (formation d’hydroxyapatite et réponse cellulaire).Nous avons démontré dans cette étude que les NTs cristallisés présentent une plus grande résistance à la corrosion et une meilleure bioactivité que les NTs amorphes (ou que les surfaces planes de Ti). Plus précisément, en tenant compte des aspects électrochimiques, thermiques, mécaniques, chimiques et de bioactivité, il semblerait que des NTs mixtes d’environ 720 nm de long et 90 nm de diamètre constituent une surface optimale pour les applications visées.D’autre part, dans le cadre de l’étude des propriétés électrochimiques de l’interface, une attention toute particulière a été accordée dans ce travail de thèse à la modélisation des résultats de mesures par Spectroscopie d’Impédance Electrochimique (SIE). Il s’avère que la réponse en impédance des NTs de TiO2 en milieu physiologique correspond au modèle d’électrode poreuse de De Levie. Toutefois, pour des électrodes poreuses non-idéales, cette théorie peut être généralisée et modélisée par des lignes de transmission. Ainsi, le modèle de ligne de transmission proposé dans cette étude s’ajuste de façon très satisfaisante aux mesures expérimentales. Il permet notamment de mettre en évidence la nature très peu réactive des NTs de TiO2, justifiant ainsi leurs applications dans le domaine biomédical. / Titanium (Ti) is a biocompatible material widely used in the biomedical field, especially for orthopedic implants (for instance hip or knee replacement). It is particularly corrosion resistant and shows remarkable osseointegration properties. However, plane Ti surfaces are not bioactive enough to be implanted; they need to be improved by surface treatments. Surface modification of Ti by anodization enables to synthesize self-organized and vertically aligned TiO2 nanotubes (NTs). This cheap, fast and easily implementable technique also permits a fine tuning of NTs morphology (diameter, length, wall look, etc.). Moreover, since as-anodized NTs are amorphous, crystalline structure may be adjusted by heat treatment, producing anatase structure (450°C) or a mixed structure of anatase and rutile (550°C).Therefore, surfaces of different morphologies and crystalline structures have been synthesized in order to evaluate the influence of these characteristics on corrosion resistance in physiological medium and on bioactivity (hydroxyapatite formation and cell response).We demonstrated that crystallized NTs are more corrosion resistant and more bioactive than amorphous ones or even than flat Ti surfaces. More precisely, considering electrochemical, thermal, mechanical, chemical and bioactive aspects, it seems that mixed NTs of about 720 nm in length and 90 nm in diameter constitute an optimal surface for the present applications.Additionally, in the frame of electrochemical investigations, we focused on modeling experimental results from Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. The impedance response of TiO2 NTs in physiological conditions can correspond to porous electrode model as developed by De Levie. However, for non-ideal electrodes, this theory can be generalized and modeled by transmission lines. Thus, the transmission line model developed in this study fits very well with experimental measurements. It suggests that TiO2 NTs are almost non-reactive, justifying their applications in biomedical fields.

In the initial stage, the sample preparation was done by using the techniques of Anodic etching and anodic forming processes where a repeated trial and error method of sample preparation headed towards making out a suitable sample set for characterization. After this step, the set of 2 different industrial samples were introduced and anodic oxide forming process was carried out in different electrolytes.    In the sample preparations, 4 different electrolytes were used 15% wt. Ammonium Adiphate, 1.5% wt. Ammonium Phosphate, 7% wt. Boric acid and 15% Penta Borate at different stages for performing the anodic oxide forming process. Minimum forming voltages of 20V to a maximum of 100V was employed in the sample preparation and to overcome the waiting time in forming the etched samples a higher current of 0.5A was used.   After the samples preparation, Electrochemical Impedance spectroscopy was used as a tool for characterising the various groups of samples and for observing the micro structures of various samples, they were fractured and the observed on the cross section by SEM.   After the analysis of the etched samples was made, an attempt to compare the results of the data of these samples to that of the 2 set of industrial samples was made and found that the resultant data wasn’t stable enough to characterize since huge scattering were occurring and whereby the simulation of the CPE circuit for the chosen circuit in the analysis was not possible.   Under the analysis, a randomly chosen industrial sample was also used and the resultant data was utilised in understanding the response of the system to different electrolytes. / Sammanfattning   Avhandlingsarbetet har genomförts på KEMET AB i samarbete med yttekniklaboratoriet vid JTH i syfte att karakterisera den etsade anodiska aluminiumfolien som grundprov med anodisering och etsning för ytbehandling.   I inledningsskedet gjordes provberedningen med användning av teknikerna för anodisk etsning och anodbildande processer där en upprepad provnings- och felmetod för provberedning ledde ut mot att utarbeta en lämplig provuppsättning med avseende på karakterisering. Efter detta steg infördes uppsättningen av 2 olika industriella prover och anodoxidbildande process utfördes i olika elektrolyter.   I provpreparaten användes 4 olika elektrolyter 15 % vikt Ammoniumadiphat, 1,5 vikt% Ammoniumfosfat, 7 vikt% Borsyra och 15 % Penta-borat vid olika steg för utförande av anodoxidbildningsförfarandet. Minimala formningsspänningar på 20V till ett maximum av 100V användes i provframställningen och för att övervinna väntetiden vid bildning av de etsade proven användes en högre ström av 0,5A.   Efter provberedningen användes elektrokemisk impedansspektroskopi som ett verktyg för att karakterisera de olika grupperna av prover och för att observera mikrostrukturerna i olika prover, de bröts och de observerades i tvärsnittet av SEM.   Efter att analysen av de etsade proverna gjordes ett försök att jämföra resultaten av data från dessa prover till den för de två uppsättningarna av industriella prover. Det är konstaterat att de resulterande data inte var stabila nog att karakterisera eftersom stor spridning inträffade och varigenom simuleringen av CPE-kretsen för den valda kretsen i analysen inte var möjlig.   Under analysen användes också ett slumpmässigt valt industriellt prov och de resulterande data användes för att förstå systemets respons till olika elektrolyter.

Lead-acid accumulators are the oldest and most common type of secondary cells. There are still some problems to solve. Grid corrosion in sulphuric acid is one of them, which reduced lifetime of lead-acid accumulators. The first part of work is focusing on a general theoretic description of lead – acid accumulators. Following is a description of the workstation and method of measuring. The final part of the text is measuring on an experimental cell.

The aim of this master’s thesis is electrochemical characteristics evaluation of magnesium alloys. The theoretical part describes the properties of magnesium and its alloys and their corrosion characteristics. In the experimental part are presented results of corrosion resistance measurement of two types of wrought magnesium alloys. It was AZ31 and AZ61 magnesium alloys, which were measured in Hank’s solutions with addition of ions Ca2+ and Mg2+ (SBF+) and without addition of the ions (SBF). The solution temperature during the measurement was 37 ± 1 °C. The experiments were used electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic tests using linear polarization (LP). EIS measurements were done in times of 5 minutes, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 168 hours. Potentiodynamic tests were only short-term and they started after 5 minutes of stabilization. Both methods were used for measuring the electrochemical characteristics of polished and ground surface of the samples. The most important measurement results were polarization resistance, corrosion potential and corrosion current density. The electrochemical measurements are used to estimate the chemical composition influence and alloy’s structure of the corrosion resistance.

Polypyrrol (PPy) ist ein typischer Vertreter der intrinsisch leitfähigen Polymere und wird auf zahlreichen Gebieten, wie Analytik, Korrosionsschutz oder Elektrotechnik angewendet. Dabei nutzt man die elektronische Schaltbarkeit, die Stabilität und die gute Oxidierbarkeit sowie die Wasserlöslichkeit der Monomere aus. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde der Einfluss verschiedener Parameter, wie Temperatur, Monomerkonzentration und Leitsalz, auf die elektrochemische Polymerisation von Pyrrol untersucht. Des Weiteren sollte die Wirkung eines statischen Magnetfeldes auf die Synthese und das Ionenaustauschverhalten überprüft werden. Als Messverfahren kamen die elektrochemische Quarzmikrowaage (EQCM) und die elektrochemische Impedanzspektroskopie (EIS) zum Einsatz. Bei der Auswertung der EQCM-Daten wurde ein von Efimov entwickeltes mathematisches Modell zur Bestimmung des komplexen Schermoduls angewendet. Dadurch war eine in situ Verfolgung der viskoelastischen Eigenschaften während der Abscheidung und des Ionenaustausches möglich. Um den hydrodynamischen Einfluss auf die Synthese von PPy zu untersuchen, wurden Messungen an einer rotierenden Scheibenelektrode durchgeführt. Die daraus gewonnenen Erkenntnisse vermittelten eine Vorstellung, wie sich eine durch den magnetohydrodynamischen Effekt hervorgerufene Rührung auf die Grenzströme der potentiostatischen Abscheidung verschiedener PPy|Leitsalz Systeme auswirkt. Ferner ist die Abscheidung von PPy aus Phosphorsäure betrachtet worden, da diese Schichten eine Relevanz für den Korrosionsschutz besitzen.

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Environmental stresses arising from temperature and moisture changes, and/or other aggressive fluid ingressions can degrade the mechanical properties of the adhesive, as well as the integrity of an adhesive interface with a substrate. Therefore such disruptions can significantly reduce the lifetime and durability of an adhesive joint.1-4 In this research, the durability of certain epoxy adhesive joints and coatings were characterized using a fracture mechanics approach and also by constant frequency impedance spectroscopy. The shaft-loaded blister test (SLBT) was utilized to measure the strain energy release rate (G) or adhesive fracture energy of a pressure sensitive adhesive tape. In this study, support for the value of the SLBT fracture mechanics approach was obtained. The SLBT was then used to investigate the effects of relative humidity on a model epoxy bonded to silicon oxide. Lastly, the effects of water and temperature on the adhesion of a commercial filled epoxy bonded to silicon oxide was characterized and interpreted. A novel impedance sensor for investigating adhesion was developed in a collaborative effort between Virginia Tech and Hewlett-Packard. Utilizing the technique of constant frequency impedance spectroscopy, the distribution and transport of fluids at the interface of adhesive joints was measured. A broad spectrum of adhesives was tested. In addition, the effects of hygroscopic cycling on the durability of adhesive coatings were measured for the commercial filled epoxy using the device. Lastly, recommended modifications of the experimental set-up with the new sensor are proposed to improve the technique. / Ph. D.