Lithium-ion battery quality control, development and recycling with the EA8000A X-ray analyzer, thermal analyzers and X-MET8000 handheld XRF

Lithium-ion battery technology is the key to a future without fossil fuels. These high-performance batteries power electric vehicles (EVs) and provide energy storage for renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar. The phones, laptops, tablets, and smartwatches that we all rely on are powered by lithium-ion batteries. However, Li-ion technology is still in development to increase performance in terms of energy density and longevity. And issues with safety that have caused fire and explosion in laptops and vehicles have not been completely resolved.

Material analysis is essential in developing new battery components and ensuring produced units meet high quality standards. Thermal analysis plays in important part in raw material characterization, especially for thermal runway issues. Hitachi’s EA8000A X-ray analyzer is designed for rapid battery quality control and failure analysis, whereas handheld XRF excels at identifying key battery elements during the end-of-life recycling process.

Typical applications for battery production, development, and recycling

  • Raw material characterization: Thermal analysis helps to verify the type and behavior of raw materials, whereas Hitachi’s EA8000A gives a detailed picture of metal contaminants.
  • Finished product analysis including failure analysis: For battery cells that are made in-house, obtained from a third-party supplier, or components that have failed in testing, the EA8000A will show the size, type and distribution of metal contaminants that could cause an internal short.
  • Development of new materials and technology: Thermal analysis will show how novel materials will behave at elevated temperatures, and the EA8000A will show distribution of particles within the battery before and after use.
  • Recycling end of life batteries: With difficulties in sourcing raw materials for lithium battery production, handheld XRF can identify these valuable elements within end-of-life batteries.

Hitachi High-Tech products for battery applications

EA8000A X-ray particle analyzer for rapid battery quality control

The EA8000A combines transmission X-ray imaging with XRF analysis to deliver a complete picture of the type, size and distribution of metal contaminants that are so detrimental to lithium-ion battery performance. Automated features and powerful analysis, including the ability to detect contaminants beneath the surface, ensure this instrument is precise enough for quality control, and rapid enough for extensive production use.

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Thermal Analysis range for in-depth material characterization

Hitachi’s range of thermal analyzers give world-class baseline performance for excellent accuracy even on trace amounts of material. Sensitive enough for research and development, these instruments are also robust, durable, and reliable, making them ideal for production environments. Hitachi’s unique RealView sample viewing system gives another layer of understanding of what changes are occurring with the sample during the test and is essential for in-depth materials development and failure analysis.

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X-MET8000 for fast and accurate sorting of recycled materials

The X-MET8000 range of handheld XRF analyzers delivers powerful X-ray fluorescence technology and is invaluable in a recycling facility for rapid material sorting and identification of key elements, including cobalt. The size of an electric drill, the X-MET lasts all day on a single battery charge and is tested to MIL-STD-810G standard for robustness.

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LAB-X5000 for elemental analysis of fuel cells

The LAB-X5000 is a benchtop XRF analyzer that is designed to deliver precise and accurate results in a rugged exterior. A high-resolution detector, one-touch measurement start and a safety window to prevent sample leakage, this instrument is extremely user-friendly, making it easy to analyze samples both in the lab and on the production floor.

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Watch our analyzers in action

Here’s how Hitachi analyzers can help in crucial battery development, quality control and recycling.


Solutions for lithium-ion battery manufacturing

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Brochures, application notes and technical reports

Find out more about our X-ray and thermal analyzers and how they can help you meet targets for battery development and production quality control.

Contact us for expert advice

For more information on the best instrument for your battery development or production, get in touch to speak with one of our experts.

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