MIT Researchers Use Sound to Predict Battery Degradation

Recent research has demonstrated that acoustic emissions from lithium-ion batteries can be correlated with specific internal degradation processes, such as gas generation and material fracturing. By analyzing these sound patterns alongside electrical data, it is now possible to non-invasively monitor battery health and predict failures. This approach offers a cost-effective, passive method for continuous battery monitoring, with potential applications in electric vehicles, grid storage, and manufacturing quality control. Early detection of issues through sound analysis could enhance safety, extend battery life, and improve the reliability of battery systems across various industries.

Recent analysis of acoustic emissions from lithium-ion batteries has enabled the identification of specific sound patterns linked to internal degradation processes, such as gas generation and material fracturing. This approach offers a cost-effective, passive, and nondestructive method for monitoring battery health in real time. By correlating acoustic signals with electrochemical data, it is now possible to predict battery lifespan and detect early signs of failure. These insights have significant implications for electric vehicles, grid storage, and battery manufacturing, providing new tools for quality control and safety monitoring.

Recent analysis of acoustic emissions from lithium-ion batteries has enabled the identification of specific sound patterns linked to internal degradation processes, such as gas generation and material fracturing. This approach offers a passive, nondestructive, and cost-effective method for monitoring battery health in real time. By correlating acoustic data with electrochemical signals, it is now possible to predict battery lifespan and detect early signs of failure. These insights have potential applications in electric vehicles, grid storage, manufacturing quality control, and laboratory research, supporting safer and more efficient battery management.

A team of researchers at the MIT Chemical Engineering (ChemE) Department have done a detailed analysis of the sounds emanating from lithium ion batteries, and has been able to correlate particular sound patterns with specific degradation processes taking place inside the cells. The new findings could provide the basis for relatively simple, totally passive and nondestructive devices that could continuously monitor the health of battery systems, for example in electric vehicles or grid-scale storage facilities, to provide ways of predicting useful operating lifetimes and forecasting failures before they occur. The work is reported in the journal Joule in a paper by MIT graduate students Yash Samantaray and Alexander Cohen, former MIT research scientist Daniel Cogswell PhD ’10, and Chevron Professor of Chemical Engineering and professor of mathematics Martin Bazant. The work was carried out, in part, using MIT.nano's facilities! Read the MIT News article: https://lnkd.in/edCdvJQ5 #batteries #energy #electronics #chemicalengineering #engineering #nanoscience #mathematics #electrochemistry #science #technology #research

Recent analysis of acoustic emissions from lithium-ion batteries has enabled the correlation of specific sound patterns with internal degradation processes, such as gas generation and material fracturing. This approach offers a cost-effective, nondestructive method for real-time battery health monitoring. The findings have potential applications in electric vehicles, grid storage, and battery manufacturing, providing early detection of failure risks and improving quality control. By leveraging acoustic signatures, organizations can enhance safety, predict battery lifetimes, and optimize maintenance strategies, marking a significant advancement in battery management and reliability.

Researchers have revealed that a type of salt can improve the efficiency of perovskite solar cells. Called guanidinium thiocyanate, the salt boosts perovskite solar cells’ power conversion efficiency and their stability. The approach could make solar power cheaper and more powerful. Researchers at the University College London revealed that guanidinium thiocyanate can slow and control the way perovskite crystals form during fabrication, creating smoother and more uniform layers. This helps reduce the tiny flaws in the material that can hinder performance and shorten a cell’s lifespan. https://lnkd.in/d5jAYeb4

🔋 The battery chemistry powering EVs around the world? It started here — at a national lab. Did you know the NMC battery powering many of today’s EVs was invented at Argonne National Laboratory — a U.S. Department of Energy national lab where I proudly work? The widely used Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) lithium-ion battery was developed by Argonne scientists Khalil Amine, Michael Thackeray, and Christopher Johnson — pictured here. Originally designed to reduce reliance on cobalt while boosting performance, NMC became a foundational chemistry for energy storage, now used in everything from electric vehicles to portable electronics. What made it so impactful? 1️⃣ Higher energy density for longer range 2️⃣ Greater thermal stability for safety 3️⃣ Less cobalt, more abundant metals 4️⃣ Long-lasting performance at scale But innovation doesn’t stop at invention. Today, we use data, modeling, powerful computing, and engineering to understand: 🔍 Critical supply chains ♻️ Recycling and circularity pathways 🌎 Material efficiency — so we can power the world using more secure and fewer materials from the Earth. National labs like Argonne are where science meets impact — translating breakthroughs into technologies and decision tools that shape policy, accelerate commercialization, and advance the future of global manufacturing industry. 📖 Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eRqyJVnd. Always happy to connect with others working on the future of batteries, supply chains, or next generation energy technologies. #WeAreArgonne #BatteryInnovation #ArgonneProud #NationalLabs #EVs #CriticalMinerals #Recycling #MaterialsScience #DOE #SupplyChainResilience #CircularEconomy #EnergyStorage

I am thrilled to announce that our recent review paper titled “Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: Advances in Materials Development, Performance Optimization, and Future Outlook” has been published in Energy Conversion and Management X (Elsevier). In this work, we critically examine the latest advancements in PEMFC components, including: Membranes: From perfluorosulfonic acid to hydrocarbon-based polymers and composites, improving proton conductivity, mechanical stability, and hydration management. Catalysts: Platinum group alloys, non-precious metal catalysts, and atomically dispersed catalysts for enhanced electrochemical performance and cost-effectiveness. Gas Diffusion & Flow Fields: Innovations in architecture and design for superior mass transport and water management. We also discuss key challenges like production costs, infrastructure limitations, and technical barriers, along with recent modeling and simulation strategies, including multi-physics and machine-learning approaches for performance optimization. Finally, the paper outlines future directions for scalable manufacturing, innovative materials, and strategies to support a global hydrogen economy, aligning with net-zero targets by 2050. A special thanks to all my co-authors for their invaluable contributions and collaboration. This publication reflects our commitment to advancing sustainable energy technologies and fostering a clean energy future. You can read the paper here: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gf6hKJ5m #FuelCells #PEMFC #SustainableEnergy #MaterialsScience #EnergyResearch #HydrogenEconomy #RenewableEnergy #CleanTech #ResearchPublication

New results: In our recent work together with colleagues from Jiangsu University, published in Energy Conversion and Management, we establish a 3D, non-isothermal dual network model (DNM) of a PEMFC catalyst layer. The main purpose is to understand how layer parameters impact transport phenomena and electrochemical reactions within it. Using the model, considering the transport of gas, charge, heat, and electrochemical reaction rates through and within the layer, new insights towards catalyst layer design for enhanced cell performance and reduction of cell costs are obtained. The full article can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eqYsXSaJ

Glad to share our new review in Applied Physics Reviews https://lnkd.in/dtMMyMxr! 🔋 While lithium-ion often takes the spotlight, Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) batteries remain crucial for their safety, reliability, and environmental benefits in key sectors like hybrid vehicles. Our new review examines the electrochemical methods used to study the metal hydride electrodes at the core of Ni-MH technology. Our main finding? A critical gap exists in how these materials are studied. ⚠️ Methodologies designed for liquid systems are often misapplied to solid-state metal hydride electrodes, leading to inconsistent data and flawed interpretations. Our work highlights these common pitfalls and offers a framework for more accurate, reliable characterization to drive real innovation. Please don't hesitate to write privately, and I will share the original article with you 😜 . Better energy storage requires better science. Join the conversation on how to improve our fundamental understanding of these batteries! #NiMH #EnergyStorage #Batteries #Electrochemistry #MetalHydride #AppliedPhysicsReviews #Research #ScienceCommunication