Degradation-Safety Analytics in Lithium-Ion Cells: Part I. Aging under Charge/Discharge Cycling

Cycle aging refers to all the degradation processes associated with the charge and discharge processes in lithium-ion batteries. Every time a lithium-ion cell is cycled, its capacity reduces mostly in an imperceptible way. The aim of this work is to investigate the interplay between aging, operating voltage window, and abuse tests (overcharge and external short) in lithium-ion cells and their safety implications. Part I focuses solely on the effects of aging in cylindrical commercial lithium-ion cells that underwent charge/discharge cycling under nominal conditions. The objective is to characterize the changes occurring to the cell's electrochemical properties, its morphology and the safety implications.