MRI 'can help improve batteries'
Feb
14
Written by:
14/02/2012 12:45
Battery performance could be improved by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a study has found.
Battery performance could be improved by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a study has found.
Researchers from Cambridge University, Stony Brook University in New York and New York University said they used MRI to study the inner workings of batteries without causing them damage, which could also help them identify ways of increasing safety.
While MRI is commonly used to see inside the human body, the technique usually does not work when a large amount of metal is present, as the conducting surfaces tend to disrupt the necessary radio-frequency fields.
However, the scientists found a way to carry out very sensitive measurements on the conductor surfaces of the batteries. This enabled them to visualise the build-up of lithium metal deposits on lithium-ion battery electrodes directly after charging.
These deposits can lead to battery failure, fire or explosions if they become detached from the surface.
The findings of the study were published in the journal Nature Materials.
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