Investigation of Thermal Properties of Lithium-Ion Battery Components

Lithium-ion batteries are used widely in household electrical appliances such as cell phones and laptop computers. A considerable increase in demand for lithium-ion batteries is predicted in the transportation sector, where they will be used in aeroplanes, hybrid vehicles, and electric vehicles. These applications will require an increase in the power density, efficiency, lifespan, and stability of these batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are composed of a number of parts, including a cathode, anode, electrolyte, and separator. Increasing the performance of lithium-ion batteries will require detailed investigation and analysis of the properties of each of these components, and of the battery as a whole, by instrument analysis. We describe an example investigation of the thermal properties of a lithium-ion battery by thermal analysis.