Detection of off gassing from Li-ion batteries

Off gas from Li-ion batteries is becoming a growing concern because the volatile organics emitted are flammable and their unpredictable release represents a safety risk. Recent safety incidents involving Li-based battery chemistries have occurred across automotive, marine, electric grid, and aviation sectors and indicate a need to understand battery failure and the implications for control of the thermal event and the off gas hazard. The work presented summarizes the early results of an ARPA-e AMPED funded study (2012-2015) to qualify a novel sensor for off gas detection. Early results indicate the sensor can detect off gas prior to thermal events. The remainder of the program will address whether the sensor can detect off gas prior to significant failure events and whether battery functionality can be preserved after abuse events. In addition, with enough prior warning from the sensor there is a desire to determine whether it provides suitable control at the fringes of battery performance and also acts as a state of health sensor. The implications for off gas monitoring will be investigated in several contexts including life extension, second life batteries, and the use of batteries in new environments with varying safety considerations.