A device for monitoring a condition of an electrochemical cell, the device comprising an integrated circuit wherein the integrated circuit comprises: a voltage monitoring circuit for measuring a plurality of open circuit voltages of said electrochemical cell, said plurality of open circuit voltages generated after charging or discharging said electrochemical cell or stopping charging or discharging said electrochemical cell; a temperature monitoring circuit for measuring a plurality of temperatures of said electrochemical cell, said plurality of temperatures generated upon charging or discharging said electrochemical cell or stopping charging or discharging said electrochemical cell; a current monitoring circuit for measuring a charging current of said electrochemical cell or a discharging current of said electrochemical cell; and a circuit for determining a thermodynamic parameter of said electrochemical cell, wherein said thermodynamic parameter is one or more of a change in entropy of said electrochemical cell, a change in enthalpy of said electrochemical cell and a change in free energy of said electrochemical cell, said circuit for determining a thermodynamic parameter is positioned in electrical or data communication with said temperature monitoring circuit to receive temperature measurements from said temperature monitoring circuit, positioned in electrical or data communication with said voltage monitoring circuit to receive open circuit voltage measurements from said voltage monitoring circuit and positioned in electrical or data communication with said current monitoring circuit to receive current measurements from said current monitoring circuit or to provide thermodynamics parameters to said current monitoring circuit: wherein said device does not comprise a temperature controller or a means for controlling or establishing said plurality of temperatures generated upon charging or discharging said electrochemical cell or stopping charging or discharging said electrochemical cell. a voltage monitoring circuit for measuring a plurality of open circuit voltages of said electrochemical cell, said plurality of open circuit voltages generated after charging or discharging said electrochemical cell or stopping charging or discharging said electrochemical cell; a temperature monitoring circuit for measuring a plurality of temperatures of said electrochemical cell, said plurality of temperatures generated upon charging or discharging said electrochemical cell or stopping charging or discharging said electrochemical cell; a current monitoring circuit for measuring a charging current of said electrochemical cell or a discharging current of said electrochemical cell; and a circuit for determining a thermodynamic parameter of said electrochemical cell, wherein said thermodynamic parameter is one or more of a change in entropy of said electrochemical cell, a change in enthalpy of said electrochemical cell and a change in free energy of said electrochemical cell, said circuit for determining a thermodynamic parameter is positioned in electrical or data communication with said temperature monitoring circuit to receive temperature measurements from said temperature monitoring circuit, positioned in electrical or data communication with said voltage monitoring circuit to receive open circuit voltage measurements from said voltage monitoring circuit and positioned in electrical or data communication with said current monitoring circuit to receive current measurements from said current monitoring circuit or to provide thermodynamics parameters to said current monitoring circuit: wherein said device does not comprise a temperature controller or a means for controlling or establishing said plurality of temperatures generated upon charging or discharging said electrochemical cell or stopping charging or discharging said electrochemical cell.