The Effects of Low-Temperature Exposures on Li-Ion Battery Performance
Authors: Ojha Mihir , Alaei Shervin , Lounsbury Luke , Ishtiaque Md Mahdi Ul , Leland Stuart , Ramamurthy Jayanth , Martin Steve , Pint Cary L. , Kingston Todd A. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Li-ion batteries (LIBs) are the foundation of modern-day electronics, electric vehicles, and renewable energy storage solutions due to their high energy density and Coulombic efficiency and long cycle life. However, using Li-ion batteries at low temperatures, such as in northern climates and space applications, results in drastically reduced performance due to, in part, lower diffusion properties [1,2]. Moreover, recent studies indicate that storing LIBs at low temperatures leads to electrode degradation, which further reduces their performance at normal temperatures [3]. While multiple studies demonstrate reduced LIB performance during operation at low temperatures [4–8], the mechanisms affecting the LIBs during low-temperature storage are not well understood. Therefore, identifying these mechanisms is crucial to developing low temperature-compatible Li-ion batteries. In this work, we study the effects of low-temperature exposures on the performance of Li-ion batteries when they are restored to normal temperature conditions. Single-layer pouch cells with NMC cathodes and graphite anodes are fabricated and thermally cycled between ambient temperature and -60 °C with controlled ramp rates. Electrochemical studies are then performed at ambient conditions, which reveal two performance deterioration contributions: electrolyte effects in the initial stages of low-temperature exposures and loss of active material associated with long-term thermal cycling. Post-mortem analysis was used to identify that cathode particle cracking is the primary electrode degradation mechanism.

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the NASA Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Program for funding this research (NASA Grant Number 80NSSC23M0068). The authors also acknowledge Dr. William West and Dr. Marshall Smart (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory) for technical discussion of this work and Dr. Sara Nelson and Ms. Hailey Waller (Iowa NASA EPSCoR) for administrative services.

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