Fast Method for Calibrated Self-Discharge Measurement of Lithium-Ion Batteries Including Temperature Effects and Comparison to Modelling

The self-discharge rate is an important parameter to assess the quality of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). This paper presents an accurate, efficient, and comprehensive method for measuring and understanding the self-discharge behaviour of LiB cells, considering factors such as temperature and cell to cell variability, as well as underlying electrochemical mechanisms. A method for precise potentiostatic self-discharge measurement (SDM) is demonstrated that is validated by measuring 21 commercial cylindrical 4.7 Ah cells at a state of charge (SoC) of 30%. The self-discharge current ranges between 3 and 6 μA at 23 °C, with an experimental noise level of 0.25 μA. At higher temperatures of 40 °C the self-discharge current increases to 97 μA. The temperature coefficient of voltage (TCV) is experimentally obtained by exposing the cells to a temperature profile with positive and negative step polarities and following the open circuit voltage (OCV) response. Observed TCVs range from +180 µV/K at 40% SoC to −320 µV/K at 0% SoC. For SDM temperature experiments, the cells were set to an SoC with a minimum TCV. From the SDM currents at different temperatures the Arrhenius kinetics and the electrochemical activation energy barrier is determined as 0.94 ± 0.14 eV, indicating chemical side reactions as source of self-discharge. For SDM modelling the electrochemical processes are coupled with a 3D temperature finite element model (FEM) and an electric circuit model resulting in a good overlap with the dynamics and time-constants of the experimental self-discharge curves. The primary challenges addressed are accurately measuring microampere (µA) discharge currents of high-quality cells, reducing measurement time, understanding the temperature dependence of self-discharge, determining activation energy, and demonstrating the applicability and generalization of SDM.