The PAT-Core concept

The PAT-Core Concept

The PAT-Core: Enabling battery studies of unmatched quality

PAT-Core_components_02

The PAT-Core is the world-wide patented*, essential part of the PAT-Cell. It holds the electrodes undergoing testing in place and allows for precise alignment of the cell stack. The well-defined geometry of the PAT-Core enables high-quality two- and three-electrode tests of Li-ion and other battery materials as well as supercapacitors. It is even suitable for special applications such as the use of printed electrodes.

The easy assembly of the PAT-Core minimizes the human factor in experiment preparation and even qualifies for robotic assembly.

The standard PAT-Core comprises three components. The first part is a highly customizable insulation sleeve with a built-in separator and ring-shaped reference electrode. Different reference materials like sodium or magnesium and various separator materials such as glass fibre or microporous polyolefin are available. The single-use concept lowers lead times in the lab and minimizes the risk of cross-contamination. The insulation sleeve is preassembled under a protective argon atmosphere at the EL-CELL factory to ensure consistent quality for reproducible battery tests. PEEK is now made available as alternative material for the insulation sleeve; this way we are also able to offer the insulation sleeve as a reusable version for self-assembly.

The upper and lower plungers complete the PAT-Core and serve as current collectors. Battery researchers can choose from a broad range of different materials: battery-grade aluminum and copper, reusable stainless steel or precious metals, such as gold or platinum for special demands.

This way the PAT-Core is ready for both aprotic and aqueous electrolytes as well as special purposes such as high temperature environments.

*Patents: EP3108224, US10,408,781B2, ZL201480075905.3: REFERENCE ELECTRODE INSERT FOR AN ELECTROCHEMICAL TEST CELL – PAT-Core

The PAT-Core: A modular concept to fit almost all testing purposes

PAT-Core configurations for common test cases

PAT-Core features

Long-term tests

The PAT-Core enables battery tests with a three-electrode setup and a duration of 1000 hours or more. This advantage is due to the new ring-shaped Li-reference electrode, which is far more time stable than point-type reference electrodes. The PAT-Core is, therefore, the perfect test system for aging studies.

Long-term cycling test of NCM vs. GraphiteLong-term cycling test of NCM vs. Graphite

Less cross contamination and corrosion

The single-use concept of the PAT series helps to reduce cross contamination between subsequent tests. Corrosion issues are also reduced. The PAT-Core consists of three single-use parts: insulation sleeve (PP), upper plunger (Cu as standard), and lower plunger (Al as standard).

All these parts are assembled, packed, and sealed under controlled atmosphere at the EL-CELL® factory. Moreover, single-use parts do not need to be cleaned and dried, which circumvents the risk of contamination with water and reduces the effort in the lab.

Please note that upper and lower plungers are also available as reusable versions in stainless steel.

Insulation sleeves ready for use, packaged under argonInsulation sleeves ready for use, packaged under argon

Half-cell impedance spectra

With the ring reference built into the PAT sleeve, the half-cell impedance can be measured as easily as the full-cell impedance.

Full and half cell impedance spectra of NCA vs. Graphite (3.8 V full cell voltage)Full and half cell impedance spectra of NCA vs. Graphite (3.8 V full cell voltage)

Easy electrolyte filling

The PAT-Cell can be easily filled with electrolyte during the assembly procedure. The user needs only a micro-pipette to drip a defined amount of electrolyte onto the separator, which is factory preinstalled in the insulation sleeve of the PAT-Core.

The amount of electrolyte used is typically between 50 and 200μL, depending on the specific components used.

Tight test cells

The PAT-Cell is completely airtight and designed to operate outside of the glove box. This is ensured by special seals available in different materials like PE, PTFE or Al.

Furthermore, all PAT-Cell variants are helium leak tested at the EL-CELL factory to guarantee ultra-low leakage.

PE-SealsPE-Seals

Increased productivity

The new PAT series improves productivity of battery testing. The single-use concept avoids effort that is related to cleaning and disassembling of the PAT-Cores. When used with a PAT-Stand-16, time for connecting the test cells with the potentiostat for every new battery test is saved.

Moreover, the PAT-Stand-16 saves space in the lab; its compact design holds up to 16 PAT-Cells. All these features increase the productivity of battery testing and facilitates high-throughput testing.

PAT-Stand-16 with PAT-Cells in a climate chamberPAT-Stand-16 with PAT-Cells in a climate chamber

The PAT-Core components in detail

Upper plunger

By default, the upper plunger serves as the negative current collector. The given size fits for any thickness of the upper electrode up to 800 μm . The plungers are available in Stainless Steel (ss), Al and Cu, and as a special version made of PEEK polymer. The PEEK plungers are used in combination with a disc-shaped metal foil as the current collector. Many different metals are available including Au, Pt and Ni.

For use with printed electrodes, a special slotted current collector foil made of stainless steel is available as well. It can be used in combination with all available plungers.

Upper plunger types

Insulation sleeves

Insulation sleeves are available in the materials polyproplyen (PP) and PEEK. The inner and outer ring are clipsed (PP) or sticked (PEEK) together with a separator or separator -like material (such as a solid state electrolyte) in between. For three -electrode tests, a reference ring can be additionally mounted into the insulation sleeve. An additional reed contact serves as the electrical contact for the reference ring. Different reference ring materials are available including lithium metal and LTO.

1. Insulation sleeve (PP) for single-use

The variant made of polypropylene is a single-use item with built-in separator, ring reference and reed contact. The single-use concept lowers lead times in the lab and is the perfect choice for high-throughput testing.

2. Insulation sleeve (PEEK), reusable

The PEEK variant on the other hand is reusable and optimal for higher temperatures (up to 200 °C). It is assembled before each testing so you can modify its components easily. It is the right choice for small scale testing and the more unusual ideas.

Insulation sleeves may be ordered readily assembled (PP) or for self -assembly (PP or PEEK). When assembling the insulation sleeve yourself, please use separator circles of 21.6 mm diameter. All parts except the PEEK rings are for single -use.

As a standard, we offer three different types of separators: a double-layered separator comprised of a 180 µm thick nonvowen PP cloth (Freudenberg FS 2226 E) and a 38 µm thick microporous UHMW-PE membrane (Lydall Solupor 5P09B), a 260µm borosilicate glass fiber separator (Whatman GF/A), and a 25µm nonwoven polyester separator pasted with Al2O3 (Freudenberg Viledon FS 3005-25). Other separators and customized solutions are available on request.

Separator comparison:

Lower plunger

By default, the lower plunger serves as the positive current collector . The choice of materials is the same as for the upper plunger, however, the lower plunger comes in different sizes (height numbers) to account for different thicknesses of the lower electrode and the separator. Available height numbers range between 50 and 800 in steps of 50. The proper plunger height must be chosen to ensure that the pre -assembled separator is not excessively bent during assembly of the PAT -Core. The proper height number depends on both the thickness of the lower electrode and the thickness of the built -in separator. Please note that the height number starts with a zero point offset of 50. The height number does not refer directly to the height of the lower electrode in μm.

Our configurator can help you to determine the proper lower plunger for your battery test:

Lower plunger configurator

Sample test results

Monitoring of half cell voltages during the initial cycles of NCA vs. GraphiteMonitoring of half cell voltages during the initial cycles of NCA vs. Graphite
Full and half cell impedance spectra of NCA vs. Graphite at a full cell voltage of 3.8VFull and half cell impedance spectra of NCA vs. Graphite at a full cell voltage of 3.8V
Long-term cycling test of NCM vs. GraphiteLong-term cycling test of NCM vs. Graphite

Downloads

PAT-Core User Manual
Release 1.32
Date August 2023
Type PDF
Size 1.3 MB
Download

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