Engineering PapersSearch

DOE OSTI · 2563040

In-device Battery Failure Analysis

Qian, Guannan [University of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)]·Zan, Guibin [SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States). Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL); Sigray Inc., Concord, CA (United States)]·Li, Jizhou [SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States). Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL)]·Meng, Dechao [SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States). Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL)]·Sun, Tianxiao [University of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)]·Thampy, Vivek [SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States). Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL)]·Yanyachi, Ayrton M. [University of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)]·Huang, Xiaojing [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS)]·Yan, Hanfei [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS)]·Chu, Yong S. [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS)]·Gul, Sheraz [Sigray Inc., Concord, CA (United States)]·Huang, Juanjuan [Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)]·Kelly, Shelly D. [Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)]·Lee, Sang‐Jun [SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States). Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL)]·Lee, Jun‐Sik [SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States). Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL)]·Yun, Wenbing [Sigray Inc., Concord, CA (United States)]·Cloetens, Peter [European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), Grenoble (France)]·Pianetta, Piero [SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States). Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL)]·Zhao, Kejie [Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (United States)]·Ezekoye, Ofodike A. [University of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)]·Liu, Yijin [University of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)] (ORCID:0000000284172488)

Abstract

Lithium-ion batteries are indispensable power sources for a wide range of modern electronic devices. However, battery lifespan remains a critical limitation, directly affecting the sustainability and user experience. Conventional battery failure analysis in controlled lab settings may not capture the complex interactions and environmental factors encountered in real-world, in-device operating conditions. Here, this study analyzes the failure of commercial wireless earbud batteries as a model system within their intended usage context. Through multiscale and multimodal characterizations, the degradations from the material level to the device level are correlated, elucidating a failure pattern that is closely tied to the specific device configuration and operating conditions. The findings indicate that the ultimate failure mode is determined by the interplay of battery materials, cell structural design, and the in-device microenvironment, such as temperature gradients and their fluctuations. This holistic, in-device perspective on environmental influences provides critical insights for battery integration design, enhancing the reliability of modern electronics.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Qian, Guannan [University of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)], Zan, Guibin [SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States). Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL); Sigray Inc., Concord, CA (United States)], Li, Jizhou [SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States). Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL)], Meng, Dechao [SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States). Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL)], Sun, Tianxiao [University of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)], Thampy, Vivek [SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States). Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL)], Yanyachi, Ayrton M. [University of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)], Huang, Xiaojing [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS)], Yan, Hanfei [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS)], Chu, Yong S. [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS)], Gul, Sheraz [Sigray Inc., Concord, CA (United States)], Huang, Juanjuan [Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)], Kelly, Shelly D. [Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)], Lee, Sang‐Jun [SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States). Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL)], Lee, Jun‐Sik [SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States). Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL)], Yun, Wenbing [Sigray Inc., Concord, CA (United States)], Cloetens, Peter [European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), Grenoble (France)], Pianetta, Piero [SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States). Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL)], Zhao, Kejie [Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (United States)], Ezekoye, Ofodike A. [University of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)], Liu, Yijin [University of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)] (ORCID:0000000284172488). 2025-01-31. In-device Battery Failure Analysis. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202416915

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related reports

Cyclic moisture reactivation of calcium sorbents for long duration thermochemical energy storage

The transition to a flexible and reliable energy infrastructure, using electro-thermal energy generation technologies such as geothermal, concentrated solar power, and nuclear, usually demands simultaneous advancement of thermal energy storage (TES) to support on-demand electricity generation and industrial applications while mitigating the inherent intermittency of renewable energy sources and power outages from direct energy generation. Among TES technologies, thermochemical energy storage (TCES) based on calcium looping emerges as a compelling high-power energy storage candidate due to its high reaction enthalpy, compatibility with elevated operating temperatures, and abundance of low-cost materials. However, the long-term durability of calcium-based sorbents for TCES is hindered by surface sintering and particle aggregation, leading to performance degradation over repeated thermal cycles. This study explores a moisture hydration-based strategy to regenerate a degraded calcium sorbent and mitigate performance degradation for long duration TCES. The addition of moisture transforms calcium oxide into calcium hydroxide and produces intercalation water layers, associated with a regenerated surface area and reduced calcium oxide crystallite size. Both these effects are beneficial in restoring the sorbents' reactivity for carbonization. Additionally, an optimized hydration-assisted reactivation protocol balances the recovered energy storage capacity with heating penalty required for moisture removal from hydrated samples, resulting in an enhanced energy storage capacity up to 176% compared to benchmark sorbents that undergo cycling without reactivation after 60 cycles. In conclusion, these results highlight the potential of hydration-assisted reactivation to enhance the long-term performance of TCES, providing an effective pathway to advancing electro-thermal storage technologies.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE